Lee Bowyer got off to a flying start as Charlton’s caretaker manager on Saturday.

Not only did his side take all three‎ points against Plymouth, but they turned in their best performance of the season and as an added bonus, kept a clean sheet as well.

The defence was superb. As well as their defensive duties, Anfernee Dijksteel and Lewis Page bombed up and down the touchline all afternoon.

Their lung busting runs added the width to Bowyer’s narrow midfield diamond shape. Page was rewarded with the sensational opening goal.

Patrick Bauer and Jason Pearce were rocks in the middle, nullifying the threat of Ryan Taylor and dangerman Graham Carey.

One of the criticisms of Karl Robinson’s team was that it was too lightweight, and was easily bullied. On Saturday referee, John Brooks, had to speak to skipper Pearce to calm his team down.

So effective were the defence that Ben Amos had little to do. The keeper did have to make one incredible save to maintain the Addicks’ 1-0 lead though, tipping Taylor’s goal bound effort onto the post.

Jake Forster-Caskey controlled the game from the base of the diamond, breaking up Argyle’s attacking forays and driving his team forward.

Joe Aribo and Tariqe Fosu caused the visitors all sorts of problems, and Ben Reeves at the tip of the diamond, probably had his best game in a Charlton shirt.

And how nice it was to see two strikers in tandem again. Michal Zyro showed what a good player he is, and notched the second goal with a bullet header from Aribo’s cross.

Nicky Ajose looked the player he was at Swindon, and he was desperately unlucky not to score. His work rate was phenominal too.

These are Bowyer’s post match thoughts:

“I’m delighted, it’s three points and the lads all stood up and were counted. They were all men today and they showed what they can actually do.

“Everyone performed. The keeper made an unbelievable save at 1-0 and we kept a clean sheet so everybody has gone home happy today.

“I’ve made them believe in themselves and let them enjoy their football. They worked hard as a team and that was something that was creeping in recently – we weren’t playing as a team.

“Teams realised how we were playing. I respected Plymouth, watched tapes of them over the last two days and saw what their strengths were and then we tried to spin that around.

“The plan worked and everybody took everything on board that myself and Jacko have put across to them. The lads have been outstanding, I couldn’t have asked any more from them.

“You don’t go on runs like Plymouth have been on and go unnoticed. They earnt respect and they fought today, but we outfought them and we were by far the better side.

“We haven’t had many clean sheets, so everything went to plan. I told them that I was very proud of them, go and enjoy your day off tomorrow and we’ll go again on Monday.”

‎Bowyer was confident about his team’s chances of making the play-offs, and added this:

“It’s in our hands,‎ we’ve got a game in hand and we’re two points behind. I said to the lads before the game: ‘we’ve got 10 games to go and I believe in you as players and as a team.

“If you fight and work hard as a team with the ability we’ve got in the dressing room then we will make the play-offs’.

“I have no doubt that we will make the play-offs.”

‎Bowyer conducted himself well in front of the press and put his points across eloquently.

Next up for the stand-in boss is a trip to Northampton on Friday, followed by a visit to Bristol Rovers eight days later.

Pompey beat Robinson’s Oxford 3-0 on Sunday to overtake the Addicks.

It will be a big, big game when Bowyer takes his team to Fratton Park next month.