Bauer play hits Addicks
CHARLTON’S promotion hero Patrick Bauer broke his old club’s heart with his winner for Preston.
The big German came up front for a corner – floated in perfectly by Josh Harrop – and used every bit of his 6ft 4in height to powerfully head home.
It silenced Charlton’s 900-strong following, who still have memories of Bauer’s lastgasp winner in the Addicks play-off final victory over Sunderland.
But even though Bauer was offered a new contract at the Valley, he left on a ‘free’ and signed a threeyear deal with Preston, where he has been a muchvalued defensive mainstay – and, yesterday, Deepdale’s match-winning hero.
Addicks’ boss Lee
Bowyer blasted his defence for “falling asleep” for Bauer’s goal and said: “We know all about Patrick. We know his strength, but we gave him a free header from six yards out.
“We’re down to the bare bones again, and had to play four kids. We need help and to bring in bodies – the sooner the better.”
But it was a shock start for Preston against a side looking for their first win in 16 games.
Andre Green had a giftwrapped chance in the fifth minute. Alfie Doughty carved out the chance with a run down the left channel, hitting in a low cross that 22-year-old Green steered past keeper Declan Rudd from close range in one flowing move.
North End steadied quickly, with Daniel
Johnson back pulling the strings in midfield.
But if the home crowd expected ‘DJ’ to level matters, the equaliser came from in-form Harrop.
The 24-year-old former Manchester United trainee was out on the right side, and after an exchange with Darnell Fisher the unmarked Harrop saw his chance.
With some ease he floated a beautiful, long-range effort over Charlton’s defence and past keeper Dillon Phillips into the net.
Bowyer was gracious enough to say of Harrop’s strike: “You have to hold your hands up and admit it was a great goal, but we threw it away when we let in Bauer.”
Preston boss Alex Neil said: “I’ve no issue with Patrick not celebrating his goal. He has memories of scoring for Charlton at Wembley and he showed them respect.
“It was a poor start for us, but we stayed calm and then Josh’s goal was a real bit of quality.”