Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer after win over Leeds United: “We’ve just beaten the best team in the league”
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Lee Bowyer says he can’t praise his squad highly enough after the 1-0 home win over early season favourites Leeds United.
Macauley Bonne’s first Charlton goal just after half-an-hour into his full Championship debut proved to be the only one of the game as the Addicks defended purposefully throughout the game to deny their high-flying visitors.
The win was a first in three for the South Londoners and Bowyer was delighted to take three points against the side he made over 250 appearances for during his playing career.
“To beat, for me, the best team in the league is always a great achievement,” said the Charlton boss.
“I thought we deserved it. Obviously, we’re going to be under a bit of pressure at times. Everyone that Leeds play are under pressure. How quickly they move the ball, how quickly they break on you.
“I knew it was going to be tough. But we held our own. Tactically, we got it spot on. I think from start to finish, we know we’ve got a group of players who will put their bodies on the line time and time again. I can’t praise them anymore. They’re a group that never say die. Today, to get three points, just shows how far we’ve come as a club.
“The game plan was to try and start with four at the back and then try and press them high. Because of the way they play out, we could never really set ourselves for the press. Once we went to the back three, which was always the plan, I thought they struggled. Against a back three, they don’t create as many chances. We restricted them.
“I’ve got the utmost respect Leeds. Their fans, the management. I watched Leeds two years ago before he took over and they weren’t very good. Now, they’re a top side and that’s down to the management and his staff. I would never say it means more as three points is three points no matter who you’re playing. I’ll be saying the same thing on Wednesday.”
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Its all well and good playing great football, but results is what matters we need our players to be responsible they got long contracts and are going backwards stand up and earn your wages another game thrown away with chance after chance, no disrespect to Charlton but it should have been 3 as for Kiko i dont know what book or training manual your reading that is not acceptable poor clearence you cost us a final last year with the same punching of the ball you need to take the blame for this howler as well as the defence we need to change formation try something new teams have worked Marcelos team out and soak up the pressure and wait for the break and punish us we need to change very quickly or were going to be to far from the pack. Come on Leeds we know were better than this lets belive in ourselves