People see different things in a game. Lee Bowyer thought a point was the least his team deserved from Saturday’s game at Doncaster – a view that would be shared by Charlton fans at the game.
But Rovers manager, Grant McCann saw things very differently. He thought five offside decisions went against his side, including John Marquis’ stoppage time strike which would have given Rovers all three points.
This was the first match of Bowyer’s three game touchline ban, and he watched the game from the gantry along with analyst, Brett Shaw.
It was another game where the Addicks spurned opportunities to run out comfortable winners. Bowyer felt his side could have been three up in the first ten minutes, and they went on to dominate the game until late on.
Bowyer felt the result extinguished any lingering automatic promotion hopes, and his job now is to cement a play-off place.
“You can look at that cushion (five point gap to seventh placed Peterborough) but for me, we were still trying for the top two.
“With Barnsley winning today, that’s done now,” said Bowyer after the game.
Barnsley’s win at Southend opened up a ten point gap on Charlton, with just eleven games remaining. The Tykes also have a much better goal difference.
One concern from Saturday’s game for Bowyer would have been Krystian Bielik’s injury. The Arsenal loanee took a knock late on, and had to be replaced in stoppage time.
Bielik has been consistently good for the Addicks, and it would be a major blow if he was ruled out for any length of time.
He has made the place at the base of the midfield diamond his own, but he is a more than capable central defender.
Jason Pearce did not play for the Under-23s on Friday, but was not involved at Doncaster either. Hopefully, he has not had a set back.
“You can look at that [cushion] but for me we were still trying to go for top two,” explained Bowyer.
“With Barnsley winning today that’s done now.