A very young Charlton side exited the FA Cup at The Valley on Sunday afternoon.

A single goal from‎ Kenneth Zohore just past the half-hour mark was enough to send the Baggies through to Round Four.

West Brom fielded an experienced side including Charlie Austin, Gareth Barry and Chris Brunt‎.

In contrast, Lee Bowyer’s side was packed with untried youngster‎s, including 16-year-old Aaron  Henry. Recently signed Aston Villa loanee, Andre Green, started and Tomer Hemed and Jonny Williams made their comebacks from the bench.

The Addicks competed well, but West Brom just had too much experience for them. The game attracted a respectable crowd of‎ nearly 6,500 boosted by nearly 2,000 away fans.

So yet another Cup campaign comes to an end at the first hurdle. ‎Lee Bowyer’s side also went out of the Carabao Cup in the First Round. They failed to score in either competition.

Ironically, Slavan Bilic’s side return to The Valley on Saturday for a league game. It is a fixture that Bowyer will be far more concerned about.
He will hope to have a new face or two through the door by then.

Here are Bowyer’s post match thoughts:

‎”At the end of the day we’ve lost the game. I don’t like losing any game but taking into account the lads that have started, their age, their experience, then I think we gave a good account of ourselves.

“In the first half we got into our shape, the goal was poor but I think we restricted them and the second half we had a go. 

“We had a couple of chances, some half chances, Josh (Davison) hit the bar. We could have had a penalty – it was close. 

“They were playing against experienced players, I’ve played against three of those players. Gareth Barry, Charlie Austin, Chris Brunt, they’re proper players. 

“These lads are playing against proper players and they held their own. Of course at times, especially first half, our quality wasn’t quite there but they worked hard and tried their hardest and they didn’t disgrace themselves in anyway. I just said to them ‘well done’, I couldn’t have asked for anymore from them.

“It was good to get 20 minutes into Jonny Williams, 30 minutes into Tomer (Hemed). I thought Andre Green did some good things when we got him the ball. 

“In the first half he got to the byline a couple of times and put some good balls in. Obviously he’s a little bit behind on fitness but we’ll get him up to speed.

Charlton: Phillips; Solly, Oshilaja, Sarr, Stevenson; Green (Hemed 60),Wiredu (Williams 70), Henry (Morgan 60), Vennings, Odoh; Davison.

Subs (not used): Harness, Gallagher, Pratley, Powell.‎

Booked: Wiredu 70 (foul)‎.

West Brom: Bond; Townsend, Hegazi, O’Shea, Fitzwater;  Brunt, Harper (Shotton 90), Barry, Edwards (Tulloch 90); Zohore, Austin.

Subs (not used): Al-Habsi, Krovinovic, Willock, Soule, Richards.

Goal: Zohore 32.