Charlton boss Bowyer: We’re getting punished for our defensive lapses
Lee Bowyer reckons his Charlton side have paid a high price for split-second lapses of concentration – citing Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Cardiff City as a perfect example.
The Addicks were 2-0 up at the break with Conor Gallagher and Jonathan Leko netting.
But Nathaniel Mendez-Laing smashed home from close-range following a penalty box scramble before substitute Lee Tomlin slotted in an equaliser.
Charlton have not won since October 13 and dropped into the bottom half of the Championship table at the weekend.
“We’ve got to defend properly – if we do the right things then we’ll win games,” said Bowyer.
“At the moment we switch off at vital times and it’s costing us.
“The first goal on Saturday was just one of those things, it was bouncing around and it could’ve gone anywhere.
“The second one is disappointing for me because the fella just hangs out on the edge of the box – if we mark him then he doesn’t get that situation.
“All of our attacking players are out but even with our low numbers we are still creating chances and scoring goals.
“Where you’d think we’d be strongest is at the back – because we’ve only got one defender out and that is Lewis Page, who has been out all season anyway. So that is where we are strongest but we’re conceding sloppy goals.”
It was Deji Oshilaja’s job to mark Tomlin. The summer signing played in a holding midfield role on Saturday with Darren Pratley (suspended) and Sam Field (knee) both missing.
“If Deji gets tight then the Cardiff player doesn’t even try and pass it [to Tomlin],” said Bowyer. “Because he is so far off he ends up cutting it back and Tomlin takes two touches – that shows how far away he was – and puts it through his [Oshilaja’s] legs.
“It’s a bit unlucky that it has gone through his legs and Dillon [Phillips] slips, the ground gives way. It’s not the most powerful of shots and he’d have saved it otherwise.
“If you think about the games we have played of late, we didn’t deserve to lose any of them.
“Once we get a couple more players back it will help. That’s our problem – we can’t bring people off the bench to turn a game. Cardiff brought on Tomlin and he got a goal.
“We don’t have that impact. That’s not the lads’ fault. It’s just the way things are, with all the injuries.”
PICTURE BY PAUL EDWARDS
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