Charlton boss Lee Bowyer: Barnsley win was our best performance of the season

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer was delighted after his side’s “best performance” of the season at home to Barnsley.

A brace from Karlan Grant earned the Addicks victory over a Tykes side who started the day third in the League One table and who had only lost once in the league all season.

The win was the South Londoners’ first in four league outings and only the third clean sheet they had kept so far this campaign.

“That’s our best performance,” beamed the Charlton chief.

“They’re the best side we’ve played so far. I’ve just said to the lads – that’s what we’re about. That’s the team we are. That’s why I got so annoyed when we lost the last two silly games. But we’ve put that to bed, we’ve got a clean-sheet. We’ve defended properly, like men, and it proves all that hard work isn’t for nothing.

“Everyone from Jed up to the front-two, it was a great team performance. If you’re going to get promotion, that’s what we need. We have everything in this dressing room, it’s great to watch. The way they fight for each other and do the dirty side. But they can play as well. It’s in their hands. If they want it, they can get it. Me and Jacko will keep pushing them. We won’t let them come off it. Today was a very good day.”

Grant’s goals came at the end of superb counter-attacks – an area that Bowyer had spotted Barnsley could be susceptible in.

“They’re things that we worked on through of the week,” he explained.

“As good as they are in possession, you can hurt them on the turnover. That was our plan. We showed them clips of how you could hurt them and that was like a carbon copy of what we showed them. They took it on board. They take on what we tell them.

“Last season we didn’t really have that,” he added, when asked about the physical nature of the battle in the midfield.

“A competitive side to win the individual battles. Little Josh Cullen – everywhere today. Joe Aribo – everywhere. Reevesy. Wardy has the cleverness. That’s why I started him today between him and Tariqe but his experience was outstanding. The four of them in the middle of the park were excellent.

“We’ve got to carry it on. We’ve got to on another run. The two we lost put us out of position. Instead of being second, we were eleventh. Today was a massive win and we’ve got to go on another run for sure.”