Bowyer thinks Charlton’s automatic promotion hopes have gone after Oxford loss
Posted Friday, April 19, 2019 by PA
Charlton manager Lee Bowyer conceded his team now have to look to the play-offs after their 2-1 defeat to Oxford at the Kassam Stadium.
The U’s came from behind to take all three points and extend their unbeaten run.
It was a first defeat in 12 games for the Addicks, and a costly one which could effectively end their pursuit of the second automatic promotion place in Sky Bet League One.
Bowyer admitted there was little prospect of automatic promotion now, because Sunderland and Portsmouth are also chasing hard with Barnsley for second place.
“That’s it now, it’s gone,” Bowyer conceded. “Maybe not mathematically but you’d be expecting them all to lose one – and that’s not going to happen.
“It’s a big blow, we needed to win today but I can’t ask any more from the players. They gave their all.
“Set pieces cost us today. And on another day we would score five or six goals from the chances we had.”
Charlton took the lead in the fifth minute when Lyle Taylor converted a penalty after Joe Aribo had been brought down in the area.
Curtis Nelson volleyed Oxford level at a corner and Luke Garbutt struck a superb free-kick from 25 yards for what turned out to be the winner.
U’s goalkeeper Simon Eastwood was sent off at the start of the second half for handling outside his area but Charlton were later reduced to 10 men too when Chris Solly was red-carded for lunging in on Jamie Mackie.
Bowyer added: “I don’t know how we didn’t score in the second half. That has cost us, and also switching off at set pieces. I’m shocked, but set pieces are part of football.
“We were in full control of the game, then they score from a corner and from a free-kick quickly after and suddenly we find ourselves going in at half-time behind – and we hadn’t done a lot wrong.
“We were very good in possession.
“I don’t think Chris Solly’s one was a red card, it was a yellow. But that’s what refs do, they try to even it up when they’ve sent someone off.”
Victory was sweet for Oxford boss Karl Robinson against his former club.
Robinson said: “It was some game of football. Our players were really determined and hungry for the fight. And we’ve got belief in our system.
“The goals were excellent. We do work on set pieces. The save our sub keeper Jack Stevens pulled off in the second half was unbelievable.
“I’m very pleased – to go down to 10 men for a 20-minute period and cope the way we did.
“Our form is top six now – it just shows what might have been.”
Robinson agreed that Solly’s red card seemed harsh.
“I don’t think that was a red, to be honest, it was probably a yellow. You would think they might be able to appeal against that.
“We wish Charlton all the best in the world for the play-offs.”
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