Bowyer: "It was a good, gritty, professional away performance once again"

Speaking to the press after Saturday's 2-0 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park, Lee Bowyer gave his thoughts on the win, Jonny Williams scoring his first goal for the Addicks and looked ahead to the test of Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night.

Speaking on the performance, Bowyer praised his side in what was a difficult fixture on the south coast.

"I think it was a good, gritty, professional away performance once again. To keep a clean sheet with people that are out at the moment, I’m really pleased with that. I’d say that’s probably our best three points that we’ve got this season, because there won’t be many teams that come here and win two nil."

Bowyer reserved special praise for the defence, Chris Gunter in particular.

"We had to defend because they put a lot of balls into the box. That’s what they do, they get the ball wide and they test you. I’ve got to say that Chris Gunter was absolutely outstanding at centre-half. He slid in there as if he had played there all his life. I’m pleased with the players because you have to put in a real shift here and you have to compete for second balls and I thought we did that well."

Speaking on Williams' first goal for the club, Bowyer explained that he stated that this wold be the game that the Welshman would finally break his duck for the Addicks.

"I said yesterday when we were looking at shape that 'Jonny Williams will score his first goal for us tomorrow!' and everyone was clapping and cheering. I just had a feeling that he would score today. We played him in the '10' and I knew that he would cause problems and get in behind and I knew that he would be arriving in the box unmarked so I’m really pleased for him."

Charlton's attention now turns to Fleetwood Town's visit to The Valley on Tuesday and Bowyer admitted that it has been difficult for the players but that they will be ready for the Trawlermen.

"Fleetwood are another good side; a good strong physical side and we’re going to have to be at it. You have to be at it every game in this division because if you’re not then you get found out. We have to patch them up as best we can and try and get them back out there on Tuesday."

And speaking on Akin Famewo's injury, which the defender picked up in the second half, the manager explained that was a casualty of the rigorous schedule.

"He said he was tight the other night. We thought It might be from his back and with it being Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday… it’s tough. Unfortunately, he’s just tweaked it there a little bit I think."

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