Bowyer: "There were a lot of positives but it is two points dropped"

Lee Bowyer gave his thoughts following his side's 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury Town at The Valley on Saturday.

Sean Goss opened the scoring with a diving header for the visitors before Conor Washington equalised on the 78th minute.

Bowyer said: “I think in the first half we started well. We should’ve gone in at half-time leading by at least one. I said at half-time go and do what we had done in the first half but we didn’t. We stopped causing them problems and creating chances. We slowed down for whatever reason. They got their goal and we had to change things around because we looked dead really. We were sluggish, off our feet. We changed the shape and became the better team again.

“There were a lot of positives, we were good in the first half. We moved the ball well, going into a diamond and caused them a lot of problems.

“If Chuks [Aneke]'s chance goes in then we win the game. Conor [Washington] took his chance well and we kept going for it. We could have lost because we went for it, we want to win every game so we were vulnerable and they could’ve nicked it.

"There was some great defending from Pearcey at the end there. A point is better than nothing. I told the players to be disappointed but proud. We’re playing Saturday and Tuesday every week. We are fatigued and the boys could’ve stopped but they kept trying so I’m proud of them for that.”

The Addicks made one change, with Akin Famewo replacing Jake Forster-Caskey in the starting XI and the manager explained how this may have had an impact on the performance.

“A lot of the boys look tired. We only made the one change.” he said. “Before we’ve made three, four changes and even seven changes at Wigan. Albie [Morgan] played well and then hit a brick wall but a few of them did. They’re human and sometimes it catches up with you, especially in the second half. Not just the fitness side but even the passing, we looked sluggish.”

Reflecting on the result, the Charlton manager admitted that it is two points dropped rather than a point gained, but was full of praise for the opposition.

He said: “I’m disappointed, it’s two points dropped. You have to give them credit, they’re a good side. They’re physical. Sometimes you have to accept the draw and it is two points dropped.”

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