Lee Bowyer after Charlton triumph at Burton Albion: I’ll take the points and run

Lee Bowyer was delighted to be able to take a victory and run after his side’s smash-and-grab at Burton Albion.

Jason Pearce’s 88th minute goal stole all three points for Charlton as they survived immense Brewers pressure for large spells of the game at the Pirelli Stadium.

Lucas Akin had put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot midway through the first-half before Karlan Grant levelled it up for the South Londoners with his own spot-kick seven minutes later.

Jed Steer was much the busier goalkeeper in the second-period but Pearce’s late intervention stretched the Addicks’ winning run to four league games.

“We’re due one of them,” said Bowyer.

“We’ve had enough done to us this season. They out-played us. They were very good. They’re a good side home. We stole the points there.

“These are a good side. Don’t judge them by their position in the league, they are a very good side. They’ve just come down from the Championship, they’ve got good players. These Tuesday nights, like it or not, are the ones that get you promotion. Our lads are tired. They put a shift in on Saturday. I said to them you’ll have to dig in and give me one hundred percent. They’ll have a bit of a rest after this. You’ll have to dig in, fight and compete for each other. That was a team performance, a dogged performance.

“Did we deserve the three points? No. But there’s a lot of games where we did deserve the three points and left with nothing this season so I’m going to take this one and run.”

“He’s just a warrior,” added Bowyer, of match-winner Jason Pearce, who was imperious at the back throughout.

“He’s a leader. That’s why he’s our captain. They all done well tonight. They all put a shift in. George Lapslie was everywhere. Literally everywhere. Even when you don’t want him to be everywhere, he’s everywhere. You just want him to keep his shape and stay in position and then he’s out in the right-back position and you’re thinking ‘no!’

“Jed Steer was outstanding tonight. I thought he was excellent. Some of the saves he made were every good. Everyone put a shift in. They all fought. I’m really pleased for them. That’s the best three points we’ve won this season for me. That’s the best because they’re the ones that you don’t deserve but you dig deep and fight and compete. To get the three points, I’m over the moon.”