Charlton boss Lee Bowyer reveals why midfield hotshot Albie Morgan was withdrawn at half-time of loss against Reading
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer said he hauled midfielder Albie Morgan off at half-time during the Addicks’ defeat against Reading as he wasn’t tracking back properly.
Bowyer said the 20-year-old played a significant part in failing to defend the move that led to the Royal’s 3rd-minute penalty- duly dispatched by George Puscas as the visitors ran out 1-0 winners at The Valley after Deji Oshilaja brought John Swift down in the area.
Bowyer was asked if the withdrawal of Morgan at the halfway point was premeditated but said: “It wasn’t part of the plan. Albie let the man run past him that he should have tracked, that led to the penalty.
“He made some nice passes but he wasn’t doing the things that I’ve’ been asking him tom do in possession. That’s the reason Albie came off. I thought Jonny [Williams] came on and he did well. Albie, he didn’t track the man for the penalty, that’s the main reason.
“[John Swift] just ran past Albie. Albie should have tracked him. Deji [Oshilaja] tried to cover on the inside, try and help Albie out. Because of the pace the fella was running, he just got ahead of Deji. Deji tried to lean into him. For me, it’s a foul.
“It’s probably the right decision. But again, so was ours. If you’re giving that one, ours was a foul as well. They’re both penalties, as plain and simple as that. If the ref don’t see that then the linesman has to have seen it. He’s looking straight across. But their’s was a penalty.”
PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS
