Neil Harris’ appointment as Cardiff City manager gives extra work for Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Neil Harris’ appointment as Cardiff City manager has meant more prep work this week for Lee Bowyer, writes Richard Cawley.

The Charlton Athletic boss had been heavily linked with the vacancy at the Welsh club.

But instead the Bluebirds confirmed the appointment of Harris, who stepped down as Millwall manager at the start of October, over the weekend.

The question is how much – if anything – the new Cardiff chief tweaks for tomorrow’s Sky-televised clash at The Valley.

Bowyer said: “It is a bit more difficult because the players he has to work with now are different to the ones he had at Millwall.

“But I’ve been watching Cardiff under the last manager, Neil Warnock, and Millwall under Neil Harris. I need to see Cardiff’s players, what they are good at, and also what Neil Harris was doing at Millwall – the way he tried to play.

“I don’t think it will change too much. A lot of people have a set way of playing, it’s just the personnel are different. So then it is about the strengths and weaknesses of those personnel.”

Charlton have booked themselves into a local hotel for this weekend’s match – even though it is a home game. Bowyer felt that the noon kick-off was a factor in his side’s sluggish display against Preston and does not want a repeat.

“At least the players can sleep until 9am, then come downstairs and have some food,” said Bowyer. “Those couple of extra hours in bed make a big difference.

“We have learned from that [Preston game].”

Charlton have lost three of their last four Championship matches.

Harris, talking to Sky Sports’ EFL Podcast, said: “We play them at a time when they have not had good results. Earlier in the season they started really well and carried on the momentum from winning promotion.

“We have to play on that at the weekend but we focus on ourselves. Yes, we plan diligently for the opposition but first we have to look at ourselves – it is about picking the right team and the right formation.

“We’re not going to go from Cardiff City over the last three years to Manchester City – that’s not in the thought process. It takes time to implement styles.

“I’ve got a group of players that have achieved and can achieve still. Following on from Neil [Warnock] is going to be a challenge in itself, because of the guy he is and what he has achieved here.

“But I’ve had seven weeks since I resigned from Millwall and I have recharged the batteries. I’ve taken stock and learned from various people in the game.”

Charlton have not beaten Cardiff on home soil since a 5-4 thriller in November 2012 when Johnnie Jackson, now assistant manager, scored twice.