Bowyer battlers to continue good start
Off the field problems have marred Charlton Athletic over recent seasons but on the pitch things couldn’t be going better. Can they continue the positive start to Championship life when they meet Stoke? Have a read of our preview here:
Bowyer getting the best out of his players
Never has a manager so galvanised a club in the way Lee Bowyer has with Charlton. Despite having very little to work with financially he has put together a side that not only plays attractive football but are also effective at winning.
This combo has been a breath of fresh air at the Valley where the fug of ownership issues and failed takeovers has left an acrid scent lingering over the Charlton home.
Last season, despite being in a division with some heavy weights, Charlton rose into the play-offs and then went all the way by winning at Wembley. They then appeared to lose their manager only for him to be reinstated in a series of events that can only be described as classic Charlton.
With everyone tipping them to go down they will have been eager to prove people wrong and got off to the perfect start at Ewood Park last weekend by beating Blackburn. This wouldn’t come as a surprise to those who watched them in League One last season and they may do a lot better than people think.
Contrasting opinions
Nathan Jones has struggled to impose his tactics on the players he inherited at Stoke City and an opening day defeat to QPR will not have gone down well. The Welshman demands a lot from his players and his current charges have not delivered.
After that loss, he was quick to question the desire and passion of his team.
"We did not look like a home side who wanted to go after them and we lacked the tempo. We have to play with more urgency and cutting edge, and too many players didn't have the desire,” Jones told reporters after the defeat.
Lee Bowyer, on the other hand, was delighted with the way his side battled at Blackburn and was quick to praise them for their effort.
"I said 'go out there today and give me everything and prove to everyone that this is where you should be,” said Bowyer.
"A lot of people are doubting us and obviously we're favourites to go down, but with the group I have, they just keep fighting and battling, and we have quality as well.”
Charlton v Stoke betting tip
You have to think that Nathan Jones will get it right in Potteries but right now they are struggling. That’s why going double chance on Charlton and a draw at odds of 4/7 is a fair shout here.
