Lee Bowyer after Charlton’s 3-0 win over Derby – I knew Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher’s spectacular goal was in when it left his boot

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer said he was already out of his seat by the time Conor Gallagher’s special strike hit the back of the net and sealed a 3-0 home win over Derby County.

Goals from Macauley Bonne and Naby Sarr already had the Addicks in control before Chelsea loanee Gallagher curled home a spectacular third from outside the Derby area.

The goal took the midfielder’s total up to the five for the campaign – making him now the joint-top scorer with Lyle Taylor.

“As soon as he hit it, I think I was up,” explained Bowyer.

“He does it in training. As soon as he hit it I thought ‘goal.’ He’s got everything. He’s some player. You can have all the ability that he’s got but you can see him coming out of his shell more and more now.

“Not in an arrogant way but a positive way. Look lads, I’ve got more to show you but I’m just blending myself in. He’s only 19 and he’s only played 10, 11 games for us. His work rate is unbelievable Watching from up high, you see it even more.”

The Addicks boss had the perfect view of that strike and indeed his side’s whole impressive display – as he was sat in the West Stand’s upper tier serving the first of a three-game touchline ban.

“Obviously, it’s much nicer up there and calmer,” joked the Addicks boss.

“The lads were outstanding. They were excellent from start to finish. I thought we were by far the better side. In the first-half, I think if we had taken care a bit more we could have scored a couple more. 3-0 was a fair result. Dillon had nothing to do first-half.

“I thought we defended so well, our shape. It’s the first time we’ve played that formation. The lads are great, they take everything on board and do what we ask. I’ve got a great bunch in there and they just done surprise me. I’m running out of things to say to them, I’m so proud of them.  They’re a pleasure to work with.

“I think we were ruthless today. There’s been other games, like Forest where we were unbelievable for the first 70 minutes. But today it was a good, solid performance. An all-round performance. Out of possession you had to get into a certain shape and in possession you had to get into certain areas to make things happen. The players had to believe in themselves and move the ball quick.”

Bonne’s opener made it three in four for the former Leyton Orient man and Bowyer is pleased with the continual progression he’s seeing from his summer recruit.

“I’ve said that he can finish but there’s other parts of his game that we’re working on,” he said.

“There was one where he was running through and he had Conor and just had to slide it into his path. They’re the small details that we’re working on. But he was great again. Didn’t stop working. That’s why I took him off – Wednesday we’re going to need him to be as fresh as we possibly can. He was outstanding and it was a great finish.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS