There was some great news for Charlton fans ahead of kick-off at The Valley on Wednesday evening. It was revealed that Lee Bowyer had signed a three year extension to hia contract.
The deal will keep Bowyer at the club until June 2023. Bowyer had this to say after penning the deal:
“I’m delighted. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to getting done and it’s been a long while coming. The most important thing now is that the club can start building and moving forward.
“This is a good club with great tradition. We have great fans, I have great staff around me and I’ve got players that give me everything, so everything to do with this club is positive.
“Now the new owners have come in and we’re going to have some funds. It’s all a manager wants – good people around you who want to win and go forwards.”Chairman, Matt Southall added:
“We’re obviously delighted Lee has signed a new deal. From day one, he was always our priority and while it may have taken a couple of weeks, I’m sure this will be by far the best piece of business we do in the January window.
“I’ve enjoyed working with Lee, he understands our model and our philosophy for the club and what we want to achieve.
“Our ambitions are the same as his and that’s strengthening every aspect of the club to make sure he and the team have true foundations for success.
“He was already a Charlton legend but now he has the opportunity to build something very special at The Valley.”
The match itself was a dour affair, but Charlton picked up a valuable point, and ended their run of sixteen games without a clean sheet.
The Addicks were at their best late on, but neither side could break the deadlock. Fulham had the greater share of possession, but missing the firepower of Aboubakar Kamara, Anthony Knockaert and Aleksandar Mitrovic, they rarely troubled Dillon Phillips.
Bowyer was pleased with his team’s professionalism and paid this tribute to them after the final whistle:
”It’s a decent point against a very, very good Fulham side. They had good players everywhere that can hurt you and they’re comfortable in possession.
“Their centre-halves are good players. They don’t care and they take chances at times but they move the ball well. From the first minute to the last minute.
“I just said to my players ‘you were excellent’. No switching off. What Fulham do is they move the ball and they keep rotating as individuals and they try and find a dummy and capitalise on someone that has switched off.
“None of my players switched off and we were excellent defensively and, on another night, we might have nicked it.
” Alfie (Doughty) went through and had a chance. There was great defending at the end there when Lyle (Taylor) went through and whipped in a cross, Jonny (Williams) has got a tap in and the fella outstretched the leg to block it.
“We had to hit them on the break but come on, we’re playing against a Premiership side now. I thought we deserved the point.
“Tonight, I’m really proud of the players. They gave me everything like they always do and on another night, we could have taken all three points. But I’m happy with one.”
Bowyer now has a ten day respite to prepare his team for the crunch game against Barnsley at The Valley.
Charlton: Phillips; Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce, Purrington; Pratley, Cullen; Morgan (Williams 63), Oztumer (Green 82), Doughty; Hemed (Taylor 70).
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Sarr, Oshilaja, Dempsey.
Booked: Cullen 86 (foul).
Fulham: Rodak; Odoi,Hector, Ream, Bryan; Arter (Christie 72), McDonald, Cairney (Johansen 77); Cavaleiro, Decordova-Reid, Onomah (Stansfield 88).
Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Kongolo, De La Torre, Sessognon.
Booked: Ream 90 (foul).
Referee: Stephen Martin.
Attn: 16,424 (2,337 Fulham).