Charlton boss Lee Bowyer: Fans, players and staff all deserve credit for our 2019 points return

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Lee Bowyer reckons the praise needs to be shared around for Charlton’s average points return in 2019 only being bettered by Premier League powerhouses Manchester City and Liverpool.

The Addicks have won their first two Championship fixtures and have averaged a return of 2.22 points per match this year.

Manchester City (2.84) and Liverpool (2.42) are the only clubs that can top that.

“It’s been a very successful 2019 so far,” said Bowyer. “But everybody has played a part in it. 

“All the staff work very hard and the players go out there and give 100 per cent – whoever I select. The fans have been behind us and helped get us across the line.

“There are a lot of people behind the scenes who have played a part.

“The important thing is that we had that winning mentality last season. Once you’re in that you go into games and feel you ain’t going to get beaten – no matter who you play. We have taken that into this season already.

“We turned up at Blackburn and I told the players to go and show how good they are. They did that with a good, solid away performance and then at home to Stoke.

“It’s going to be another tough one this weekend. But we will definitely go there and try and win the game. We’ll respect them – we respect everybody we play. But we’ll go there to try and win the game.”

Charlton face Barnsley this weekend, the latter just seeing off the South Londoners’ surge to take the second automatic spot.

“They’ve spent money and they’ve got a good side,” said Bowyer. “Someone like [Malik] Wilks, we know him because he played for Donny last year. He is a good player – he’s improved them.

“They have got good midfielders and have changed their back four.

“It will be physical up there. They press really hard and quick, especially early on. The first 45 minutes will be important. Come half-time we’ll reassess and go from there.”