Lee Bowyer expressed that being 2ndin the division ‘feels good’ after their 1-0 victory against London rivals Brentford. 

 

Conor Gallagher’s goal meant that Charlton maintained their unbeaten start to the Championship leaving them to be only two points behind league leaders Leeds United after five games. 

 

“Yeah it feels good,” Bowyer said when asked about Charlton’s league position. 

 

 “But I will be honest, there are still 40 odd games to go but it is nice, it is nice to be there at the moment. 

 

“The most pleasing thing for me is the way the team battled, fought and put their bodies on the line and they got their reward for it today. They got the three points and the clean sheet, there was a hell of a lot of positives from today's game. 

 

“Yes we had to hold on but you got to remember who we are playing, the circumstances against a good Brentford side, a good footballing side who are tipped to be in the top six at the end of the season.”

 

Charlton drew against Nottingham Forrest on Wednesday evening, and the quick turnaround to Saturday’s London derby fixture meant some of his players were not able to make a full recovery. 

 

“For us to win and keep a clean sheet against them especially after the effort my players put in on Wednesday to recover – it was such a quick turnaround. It might not seem such a quick turnaround from Saturday to Tuesday, but it is. By the time the players got in and got to sleep, it was three or four in the morning for some of them. 

 

“For them to come into training the next day there is no recovery unless you make eight changes you are going to run out of legs. 

 

“To come away from four points with these two home games, especially against the opposition we played against. 

 

Charlton were forced into changing their formation following Deji Oshilaja’s groin injury, leading Bowyer to replace the fullback with a centre-back – a ploy which worked in The Addick’s favour. 

 

“They couldn’t even get out there box in the end they were so tired, exhausted. In 30 degree heat, there was so many things going against us today because of Wednesday but they keep digging in and for me to watch it I am so proud of them because they cannot physically give me anymore. 

 

“I just thought having the third centre-half because there three up top are very good, and their movement is good I felt that the two [centre-backs] become more comfortable because they were so deep when it was just the two of them. 

 

“Once you put the third one in, then it is like okay now I have a bit of cover from someone then they wasn’t so afraid. 

 

“Then we was able to get higher, it made us stronger. We had Josh Cullen in front nibbling, and then Jonny Williams doing the same and that is where the goal come from."