Charlton got their season off to the perfect start with a 2-0 win over Crewe at Gresty Road on Saturday.
First-half goals from Alfie Doughty and debut boy, Conor Washington, were enough for the Addicks to take all three points
As well as Washington, Lee Bowyer gave another of his summer recruits, Alex Gilbey, his league debut in an Addicks shirt. Dylan Levitt was an unused substitute.
Young defender, Charlie Barker, was also given his first league start, in an unfamiliar right-back role.
After a slow start Charlton gradually built momentum and went ahead just past the midway point of the half.
Gilbey’s pinpoint pass released Doughty on the right. The youngster drove into the area before unleashing a left foot shot across the keeper and into the far corner.
Washington doubled the visitors’ advantage two minutes before the interval. Skipper, Darren Pratley, pumped the ball into the area, and Deji Oshilaja bundled his way through to head the ball into Washington’s path.
Crewe came more into the game in the second period but rarely caused Charlton’s makeshift rearguard any problems.
The game became scrappy, but the Addicks managed it well.
Bowyer was pleased with the result, less so with the performance, but he did make allowances for it being the first game of the season:
“We won 2-0 and we played okay. I do expect us to be a lot better than that. But in the first game the most important thing is getting the three points and a clean sheet so it’s good.”
He made special mentionof Gilbey and Doughty:
“Alex has got that vision and Alfie took it well.The frustrating thing is that we had the opportunity to do it maybe five or six times in the first half. But we didn’t make or take care of the pass.
“We won the ball high up the pitch so many times with stuff that we’d worked on but once you win that ball you have to punish them and we should have been three or four up at half time.”
Bowyer was again full of praise for young Charlie Barker and explained why he played him at right-back:
“He did really well. It’s a gamble playing a kid in a real game and in my eyes this was the first real game that we’ve played him in.
“I didn’t want to play him at centre-half because I didn’t think it was fair on him against a big fella but I thought lets try him out there (at right-back).
“We could have changed shape if we needed to with the players that we started with.”
The ongoing ownership saga is holding up Bowyer’s plans to bring new players in, but his focus is on preparing his team for matches:
“It’s driving me crazy, we just need the go-ahead because we’ve got players lined up and we just can’t sign anyone at the moment, it’s driving me mad.
“But, it’s a good opportunity for players like Charlie and like I’ve said the previous two games, he has done himself no harm. He’s done really well and he’ll play again Tuesday.
“I might hear things slightly (earlier) but I try and stay out of it. This is more important to me than the takeover.
“Obviously that’s massive for me but, I have to prepare. I can’t keep getting sidetracked with what’s going on off the pitch! I have to keep the players focused. I just want it to happen quickly so that we can start re-building.”
Bowyer concluded by explaining how he is looking forward to facing West Ham on Tuesday:
“I’m looking forward to it, I’ve never played there (the London Stadium). I’ve been to watch games there but to do it this side, the playing side, it’ll hopefully be nice and a good test for the players.
“Coming back from lockdown it will be good to test these players and see what the difference is and what they do differently to us so it’s a good learning curve.”
Charlton: Amos; Barker, Pratley, Oshilaja, Purrington; Lapslie (Williams 60, Forster-Caskey, Gilbey; Doughty (Morgan 90+3), Bonne, Washington (Aneke 74).
Subs (Not Used): Maynard-Brewer, Vennings, Levitt, Oztumer.
Goals: Doughty 24, Washington 43.
Booked: Amos 71(time-wasting), Doughty 80 (foul).
Crewe: Jaaskelainen, Ng, Beckles, Offord, Pickering; Murphy (Ainly 62), Wintle, Finney (Lundstram 74), Dale (Zanzala 74); Mandron, Kirk.
Subs (Not Used): Richards, Zanzala, Lancashire, Lundstram, Sass-Davies, Johnson.
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).