“They are gimmes” – Lee Bowyer gives his verdict on Charlton’s defensive lapses
Lee Bowyer has described too many of the recent goals conceded by Charlton as “gimmes”.
The Addicks have scored 18 goals in their last nine League One matches – but also conceded that total.
On Saturday the SE7 outfit battled back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Swindon Town.
Charlton have conceded at least two goals in eight of their last nine league matches. They have kept one clean sheet in 11 games.
Bowyer said: “Probably half of them [the goals conceded] you can just scratch off – they are gimmes. But gimmes are hurting us at the moment.
“We have got some good lads and good defenders here but mistakes are costing us. Individual errors you never thought would happen. It is not going to carry on that every shot a team hits against us goes in.
“We were in control at the weekend and they score from their first two shots. We were on the front foot and creating chances both times.
“They get a deflection [for the second goal]. You wonder is it everything going against us? It seems whatever teams hit against us is going against us. Rochdale went bang, bang, bang – three shots and three goals. Football isn’t like that.
“Credit to my boys, they kept going and going. We changed things [against Swindon] and dominated the second half. But we can’t keep giving teams head starts, because we’re not going to win games if we keep doing that.
“We created good chances, not half-chances. If we’d come away winning 4-2 from the second-half performance alone you’d say that was a fair result.
“We revisited it in a meeting we had with the players on Sunday. We showed them – you’re not doing much wrong.
“You are coming away from games disappointed and asking ‘can I do any more?’ I’d say no. The way we are set up, we’re good in and out of possession. It’s just little sloppy mistakes which are costing us.”
TOP PHOTO: KEITH GILLARD
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