Charlton won 2-1 at Colchester on Tuesday, thanks to a scrappy late own goal.
Bowyer used the game as an exercise to get minutes. Into his players – all ten outfield players were substituted during the course of the game. The decision may also have had something to do with the stifling heat.
Newcomer, Deji Oshilaja , was introduced in the second-half and slotted in comfortably – he was even involved in the build up to one of the goals.
Bowyer deployed a 4-3-3 formation, with Jonny Williams and Callum Harriott flanking Lyle Taylor.
The Addicks trailed to a 49th minute Luke Norris super strike, but squared things up when Abraham Odoh steered home a pinpoint Alfie Doughty left-wing cross.
Chatlton were the dominant force in the opening half,but Colchester made it. a much more even contest of it after the break, and the hosts will have been disappointed to lose to a scrappy late goal.
Doughty again sent a cross into the box, and the ball went in off a defender.
Bowyer would have been pleased with the quick, incisive one touch football his team played in the first-half.
But he would have been less happy with their second-half showing. The Addicks were sloppy at times, and surrendered the ball too easily. They also looked leggy as the game wore on.
Here are Bowyer’s post match thoughts:
“The most important thing is no injuries. We got some good minutes into some of them. Some of them obviously need it more than others.
“I’ve just said to them that were some pros and cons, some good bits and bad bits and that’s what these pre-season games are for.
“They need to keep working hard. We’ve got another game to come on Saturday so we’ll keep working.
“We were very rusty in front of goal. Another day, in the first half, we should have scored two or three goals.
“That’s the nature of it because a lot of them played a lot of minutes on Saturday, so we have to be careful, especially after losing a couple on Saturday. So we gave some of them 45 minutes.
”I wanted to give Deji 30 minutes to give him a taste of it and I thought he did well when he came on. He looked very comfortable in possession.
” We know he can play, not only can he play but he’s a physical lad. Like I said yesterday I’m delighted to have him on board as part of the squad, because we want competition for places.
“The better the players we get coming through the door, the harder the lads will have to work to keep their place. If anyone comes off it then they don’t play and they all know that.
”There were a lot of positives, Jonny Williams, I think his work rate was outstanding. I know what he brings in possession but he needs to bring that as well.
“I just said to him ‘well done’, he gave me the reaction I wanted from Saturday. I think the pitch helped tonight as well. The way we passed it was a lot easier because the grass has actually been cut so it was nice.
“Abraham (Odoh) is doing well. They are fearless the young lads. It was a great touch from Alfie (Doughty) to set up the cross and a good ball from Deji.”
Charlton: Amos; Solly (Dijksteel 45), Lockyer (Oshilaja 63), Sarr (Pearce 45), Purrington (Doughty 63); Lapslie (Wiredu 86), Morgan (Quitirna 45), Forster-Caskey (Maloney 63); Williams (Odoh 45), Taylor (Bonne 45), Harriott (Pratley 72).
Subs (not used): Phillips.
Goals: Odoh 68, Eastman (own goal) 90.
Colchester: Ross (Gerken 45); Kensdale (Vincent-Young 61), Sowunmi (Lapslie 76), Prosser (James 76), Cowan-Hall (Senior 55), Comley (Eastman 76), Pell (Stevenson 76), Hasanally (Brown 61), Trialist (Fernandes 76), Norris (Chilvers 76), Nouble (Gambin 76).
Goal: Norris 49.
Booked: Nouble 58 (dissent).
Referee: Tim Robinson.
