Lee Bowyer praises Charlton’s strikers and young debutant after late Valley win against Shrewsbury
Lee Bowyer heaped praise on his strikers as they both netted during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Shrewsbury Town at The Valley.
Lyle Taylor grabbed his second goal of the campaign when he headed home from George Lapslie’s cross midway through the second-period.
Lennel John-Lewis had levelled up in the final ten minutes for the visitors but Karlan Grant added a dramatic winner in injury-time.
“He’s playing in his favoured position, up top,” Bowyer said of Grant, who opened his account for the season this afternoon.
“I’ve always said I’ve seen him as a striker. If you play him out wide he’s got to beat three or four to get a shot off. You play him up top and he’s only got to beat one. His movement and pace in and around the eighteen-yard box is scary for a defender. He’s got everything to be a striker in this division for sure and he could go higher if he’s attitude is right and he listens and learns. He’s got two good feet and great pace. Something rare for someone of his age.
“Lyle got one clear-cut chance and he took it. That’s why he’s here, he scores goals. He’s got two in two. Karlan had one chance today and took it. That’s what you ask for from your strikers. When you’ve got two people up there willing to work hard – I’m a firm believer when you work hard you get rewarded. Today they got rewarded.”
The thin nature of the Addicks squad means that youth players will get their chances in the first team, with 20-year-old George Lapslie making his first home league start this afternoon and 18-year-old Albie Morgan introduced from the bench at half-time for his Addicks debut.
Bowyer says that the young men deserve their chances.
“It’s the size of the squad but Albie has done exceptionally well pre-season,” said Bowyer.
“So has George, and so has Taylor (Maloney). The three of them have been with me throughout the pre-season, they came to Portugal. When we came back I said they’re improving all the time. George Lapslie, Sunderland and today, you know one thing – he’s going to give you 100 percent. He’s come off with cramp the poor lad. He was everywhere.
“For Albie to go on and have that composure to want to get on the ball, like he did, when basically I gave them a rollicking at half time and I said now Albie you go on and make something happen. For a young kid, it just shows you he’s not afraid and how good he is. For the second goal he put in a great little chip for Pratley’s good run. He wasn’t afraid. He kept getting in good areas. And he’s been out for a couple of weeks. He’s only trained for a couple of days since coming back from injury.”
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