New signings Krystian Bielik and Josh Cullen combined for Charlton’s late winner against Southend today and caretaker boss Lee Bowyer said it was no less that his ball-playing team deserved.
Below are key talking points.
On the winning goal…
“The ball (from Cullen) makes the goal. It just says ‘head it’. Just make the right connection and it flies in. It was a great timed run from Krystian (Bielik) and obviously a great delivery from Josh (Cullen). There were a hell of a lot of plusses for me today. Set plays was obviously something we were lacking (previously).”
On the hard work of Cullen, Bielik and Darren Pratley in midfield…
“It was definitely difficult for the three in the midfield, obviously new signings. When you play the diamond we knew that their outlet was their full backs, so Josh and Pratley had hard work. You’ve got to run out to the full backs and get back in on your man. If they don’t go out then Krystian has got to go out and help the full backs. It’s demanding from them three but once they put a shift in like that it’s all worth it. I’m just glad that we got the three points as it wouldn’t have been fair if we didn’t get it again today.”
On the mini-brawl at the end…
“Those things at the end they happen in football unfortunately. The good thing for me is sometimes you can get caught up, especially when you play away from home, you can get caught up in playing the way they want you to play and that would have been a battle, to play long ball, play for seconds. We matched them there but the most important thing for me and the reason why I played the diamond is that I knew we would play through them because we’ve got good footballers. That was the most important thing for me and the most pleasing thing. They weren’t scared to get on the ball when they won it and they moved the ball quickly and we switched it well. Yeah, at times we over-passed, I would say but I would rather that than just kicking it long and playing for second balls.”
On the first half…
“That’s been us so far this season. We’ve definitely been dominating games and just not been really taking our chances or making the right decision but again second half Karlan (Grant) got in down the right and picked out Lyle. That’s something against Accrington they were in the same situation, I said he needs to learn and it just shows today that they do take on board what we say and they have learnt and that’s a good thing for Karlan because he’s a young lad and he has a lot of attributes. If he can just take on the things we’re saying and make the right decisions in the final third, your team score goals and you win games and that’s been proven today.
On conceding just after scoring…
“We were dominating everything and we go and score and you thing ‘Yes, here we go’ and then we take too many touches out wide, get caught, they switch it. The only time they got around the side of us. The midfielders worked really hard and stopped that from happening and the full backs did. That was the one time they did and they got a tap-in and it’s frustrating because it shouldn’t have happened, especially after just going one up. The most important thing for me was that they came back again strong and went on to win the game and it would have been disappointing if we didn’t because we definitely deserved it.”