Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate: My pal Lee Bowyer hasn’t been backed properly at The Valley

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate says Charlton boss Lee Bowyer hasn’t been backed properly during his time in charge at The Valley.

The two former Leeds United teammates have remained good friends since their time together at Elland Road but are now battling against each other to remain in the Championship.

Boro’s 1-0 win at The Valley on Saturday saw the Teesiders leapfrog the Addicks – who dropped into the relegation zone for the first time with nine games left in the campaign.

Bowyer’s hands were famously tied in the transfer market as former owner Roland Duchatelet looked to cut costs whilst trying to offload the South London outfit.

East Street Investments completed a takeover at The Valley at the start of the January transfer window but only secured four arrivals on loan as Bowyer looked to bolster his squad for the run in.

“Lee hasn’t had much money to spend,” said Woodgate.

“Hardly anything. If he was backed more, he’d do a lot better. You need to back your manager and he hasn’t had that. He did a unbelieve job last year of getting you promoted and that’s what I mean.

“If you don’t back your manager, as in Lee, it’s difficult for anyone. Look at the injuries he’s had. He had fifteen injuries at one point in the season and no one to really back him up as the squad was that small. You need to cut him a bit of slack. If he had some more very good players then he’d do well. But he needs the backing.

“The pressure is on Lee, the pressure is on me, the pressure is on all the managers down the wrong end of the table.

“I hope he [has enough to stay up]. He has a magnificent forward in Lyle Taylor. He’s an absolute handful to play against.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS