Oh Bowyer, he’s second
LEE BOWYER saw surprise packages Charlton move to second – but insists his side are still a work in progress.
The Addicks are unbeaten in their first six games since winning promotion.
Jonathan Leko and a
Lyle Taylor penalty sank Reading but manager Bowyer says his side can up their game.
He said: “We should have been more clinical, should have had another two or three. I think we would have done if the players had made the right decisions.
“Lyle Taylor was there for two tap-ins, we decided to shoot instead of just sliding it to him.
“But the good thing is it’s a clean sheet, two goals, although it should have been more.
“The second half we were much better, we moved the ball quicker, less touches and that was the difference.
“I thought the first half was quite even. If Reading took the chance they had at the end of the first half, it’s a different game.”
The Royals had opportunities through a Lucas Joao overhead kick and striker George Puscas.
He was denied twice – with a deflection off the woodwork and a block by keeper Dillon Phillips in injury time.
Charlton took the lead six minutes after the interval when a Leko shot from outside the area deflected off Tom Mcintyre and past Rafael Cabral.
Conor Gallagher forced the Reading keeper into an excellent diving save on 64 minutes.
The game looked won for Charlton when Taylor converted a spot-kick after Chuks Aneke was fouled.
Phillips tipped over a John Swift free-kick on 88 minutes, but Reading boss Jose Gomes felt the Leko opener was crucial.
He said “The moment we conceded the first goal we felt the pressure – even though it was a lucky goal.
“It was too much pressure for them. But I still thought, ‘We can do it, we must try’. I still thought we could find a way to our opponents’ goal. But it wasn’t enough.
“We need the players to give us the chance to help them – to avoid these kind of mistakes in future.
“This will give them the opportunity to be better and stronger.
“We have a long season in front of us and we are five points away from our goal for this stage of the season. But we have a lot of games to recover these points.” READING CHARLTON 3 ........ Shots on Target .........5 8 ........ Shots off Target .........5 8 ................Corners .................4 14................. Fouls.................. 14 0 ............... Offsides ................. 2 79.8 Passing Success % .82.4 431 ....... Total Passes ........ 437 50.2 .... Possession % ..... 49.8 49.5 .Territorial Adv % ..50.5