Charlton Manager Lee Bowyer explained he is expecting a tough match at Pride Park this evening against Derby County.
Bowyer made two changes from the side that beat Bristol City on Boxing Day and speaking ahead of the game said: “It’s another tough game. Every game in this division we know they are going to be hard. Derby are a good side with some experienced players and some good attacking players, so it’s going to be tough.
“We’re playing against a side that got to the play-off final so they are a good side. We’ve got a lot of injuries, we can’t make the changes we want but we’ll stand up and be counted and compete against a good Derby side.
“We’ve got a lot injuries, we can’t make the changes we want, that’s the reality of the position we are in at the moment but we’ll stand up and be counted and compete as we always do.”
Lyle Taylor will be on the bench after starting the Addicks last two games and Bowyer explained: “We have to manage him. He was out for 14 weeks, we have to take care of him Lyle’s played two 90 minutes in the space of four days if he went again today there is a massive chance he could break down. We have another game in three days’ time so we have to look after Lyle, there are 21 games after tonight.”
The Addicks beat Derby 3-0 at The Valley earlier this season and Bowyer is hoping a repeat of that effort in this evening’s game.
He said: “We defended well, worked hard out of possession, we pressed them well and took our chances when they came. We’ll look to do the same tonight, the players that go out there, they’ll give everything and when we get there chances we have to take them.”