Arsenal loanee Krystian Bielik: I didn’t know what to do after my first senior goal wins game for Charlton

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Krystian Bielik admitted that he didn’t know where to turn after his first ever goal in senior football gave Charlton a late win at Southend.

The Arsenal-loanee powered a header home from Josh Cullen’s corner three minutes from time as the South Londoners edged former boss Chris Powell’s Shrimpers 2-1 in an ill-tempered affair at Roots Hall.

He celebrated by running towards the Charlton bench and embracing caretaker boss Lee Bowyer.

“I didn’t know where to go,” said the 20-year-old after his goal earned the Addicks just their second win of the campaign.

“It was a great cross, I didn’t say thank you to Josh so I have to say thank you. I just didn’t know what to do, I just ran to the bench because I have a good relationship with all the boys and I thought it would be good to celebrate together.

“I know I should have gone to the fans, sorry! They are unbelievable. Hopefully we can see the same support when we play at home. I know sometimes we’re not doing very well and fans aren’t as crazy as today. I heard Southend is like a small derby game. I hope fans will support every day like today.

“I was quite sad because the biggest centre back was marking me at the corner. I was thinking how to lose him. He wasn’t as fast as me, I just lost him. It was a great delivery from Josh and I just had to finish it. The players are saying it was a great header. I will celebrate tonight.

“It’s the first win for us since I came. I’m very happy. I could help my teammates, I scored the second goal and we won the game which is the most important thing for me.”

An unsightly 18-man skirmish in injury time resulted in Charlton’s Tariqe Fosu and Southend’s Michael Kightly and Mark Oxley all being shown the red card.

“I was quite far away,” said Bielik.

“I saw a bad tackle on Tariqe. Maybe he should be more calm. He’s a tricky player, he wanted to keep the ball. He fouled him. I went there just to calm them down, I didn’t want to fight. It’s not my game. I hope everything is fine.

“A red card for T. He came back and he’s be doing well and we’re going to miss him for the next three games. It’s not his fault but sometimes you have to keep a cold head as we say in Poland.”