Charlton Athletic boss Bowyer on huge clash with Wigan at The Valley – and key thing he wants to see happen
Lee Bowyer has told his Charlton Athletic players they have to put away their chances in today’s home match against Wigan.
The Addicks know a victory at The Valley in the lunchtime kick-off should be enough to keep them in the Championship.
But Wigan are in storming form despite the recent huge setback of a 12-point deduction for going into administration.
Only Brentford and Leeds [both 25] have taken more points than Paul Cook’s side [23] in the last 10 fixtures.
And Wigan smashed Hull City 8-0 earlier this week and have kept 10 clean sheets in the last 11 games.
Bowyer said: “Wigan are in a good place. They are a good team.
“The manager has done a good job and Keiffer Moore is very good for them. They’ve got good players in the middle of the park and their full-backs are very attack-minded.
“They are a good, solid Championship side.
“But we’re at home and we have to do the right things – we’re a good side as well.
“We were better than Birmingham, better than Reading, better than QPR and we created better chances than Millwall – we were probably better than them on the night.
“We were unlucky against Brentford, we held our own against a very good side.
“But it’s in the two boxes where a game is won and lost. Possession is great but you have to take your chances. We have to do that better.
“If we did that then we’d be winning games and be well and truly safe now – even just from the matches we’ve had since lockdown. All those games I’ve mentioned, we should have got enough points on the board and be well out of it.
“Against Wigan we have to be better than them in both boxes. In the middle of the park there won’t be much in it – two teams competing and fighting, two teams who like to play football. It comes down to the final bit in both boxes.”
I am a great supporter of Lee Bowyer and his backroom staff. He has made a few mistakes, but who hasn’t ?. His biggest problem is that he is being let down by his strikers, including the deserter, Lyle Taylor. No matter what plans you have, if the players do not deliver, then it is not Bowyer’s fault. As a life long supporter (60 years) I have seen many ups and downs, including that fantastic, against the odds win at Wembley last May, but, unfortunately, I do not see Charlton getting the win they so desperately and, over the season, deservedly need today. They will still not score enough goals against a very resolute Wigan defence and Wigan have showed a good habit of scoring goals, and not just against Hull. I’m afraid I am a doom and gloom merchant today, and it will be Luton that will survive come 10.00pm Wednesday, 22. 7. 20. We lost our big chance on Wednesday night against Birmingham. Sorry, but that is what I think and I so very very much want to be proved wrong today.