Lee Bowyer on his touchline ban, the fans’ influence on the team, and the international break

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer spoke to the media on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday’s clash with Derby County at The Valley.

Below are some of the main topics the manager discussed.

Valley Pass subscribers can watch Bowyer's press conference in full in the video below...

On the three-match touchline ban…

“Regarding the situation we’re in now, I’ve been in it before. Obviously, I’d rather be on the side but our work is done between Monday to Friday, or in this case because of international break, today and tomorrow. That’s when all our work is going to be done. All our preparation is going to be done because all the players are back, so they all know their jobs whether I’m standing on the side or not. They know everything they’ve got to do in and out of possession, and the only difference will be Johnnie Jackson will be shouting information instead of me, and I’ve given the information to him so that’s all it is”.

On recent support…

“Our fans have been unbelievable, home and away, it’s great. I think they recognise what a big part they play, like Fulham last game they didn’t stop singing and to go to Fulham and get a point and could’ve got all three on another day. They realise that they play a part and that they keep the boys going and, hopefully, they can do that in Bristol, but at home first on Saturday and we’re going to need them. It’s another tough game against Derby so hopefully we’re all recharged and our energy will be high”.

On left-back choice and Lyle Taylor’s recovery

“We’ve got two left-backs and when they’re both fit I’d do the same with them, what I do with the right-backs and change them because it’s difficult, the way we play, to ask them to get up and down, it’s difficult. So I would rotate them as well if they were both fit, obviously Lewis Page has been injured so Ben Purrington is massively important to us. He’s hardly missed a game since last January so we’ve done the right thing by letting him miss the Fulham game, as that gave us more time because we knew we had the break coming up. Lewis will be going outside next week and start running so it’s progressing. Lyle is still in the brace and he’s doing his strengthening work and I think we’re looking to take him outside. He’s got to see the specialist again but Lyle feels good and the physio says he is slightly ahead of schedule, so it is positive for Lyle at the moment”.

On the international break…

"We’re all recharged. It was needed, we’ve had a tough five or six games before this break, obviously a really tough week leading into the international break so the squad has a bit of a break, the staff had a break, so it was well needed and we’re ready to go again now. I needed a break, I’m human as well, the hours are relentless. Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, just watching game after game when I go home, up many hours just watching games, so it catches up with you. Tom and Jonny both started against Czech Republic, I watched the game and it was a proud moment. They’re both back fine which is good."


(Article by Jay Cohen)

Read Time: 3 mins