Lyle Taylor will have enjoyed silencing the abuse from the Luton Town fans, says Charlton boss Lee Bowyer

BY LOUIS MENDEZ  

Lyle Taylor loves playing the role of the pantomime villain for Charlton – and more often than not, opposing fans are left red-faced after trying to put the Addicks striker off his game.

Luton Town supporters were the latest to be on the wrong end of Taylor’s theatrics after the striker grabbed his second brace against the Hatters in as many seasons.

The former AFC Wimbledon man had received a volley of abuse from the Jimmy Seed Stand at The Valley after winning a free-kick just outside the Luton area inside the first-half.

The set-piece was cleared, but moments later he turned and fired home superbly to break the deadlock in the important Championship encounter and duly celebrated in front of the travelling masses – before later adding a second goal from the penalty spot.

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer was no stranger to abuse from opposing fans during his career and says his frontman would have enjoyed silencing the Hatters support.

“Fans do that, not just Luton, any fans,” Bowyer said.

“They get on to someone and then that person scores. I had it myself as a player. People used to do it to me and then I’d score and then you can rub it in their face a little bit. That’s what Lyle does. He scores goals and helps us win games. That’s what he’s done today.

“[Taylor’s first goal was] a great finish. I see him do that every day in training. The penalty – he does what he does. Calm, cool and collected. I thought his work-rate was outstanding as well.

“His ball retention was excellent, that’s something that I’ve been on at it him about. Against Blackburn last week and Stoke away his ball retention wasn’t very good. That’s not like him. He’s been very good and he was excellent today. He thoroughly deserved his two goals. They couldn’t handle him.”

The Addicks had been pegged back by Harry Cornick in the first-period, but secured all three points as Taylor and George Lapslie grabbed the goals during an impressive second-half.

“They got a bit braver in the second-half,” added the Addicks boss.

“A bit nervy in the first-half but the second-half was a lot better. We got back to what we do in the second-half.  We moved the ball really well and created a number of good chances. On another day we’d probably have scored another couple, I think.

“Overall, the most important thing is the three points and we move on. It’s an important week, this week.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS/ PAUL EDWARDS