MX23RW : Saturday, November 30 22:08:45| >> :120:19465:19465:

Bowyer reveals vomit and diarrhoea hit Charlton squad before Wednesday defeat

Bowyer reveals vomit and diarrhoea hit Charlton squad before Wednesday defeat
© Reuters
Bowyer was without 13 players through injury before the sickness bug hit.

Charlton's preparations were thrown into disarray by a sickness bug ahead of their 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, Addicks boss Lee Bowyer revealed.

Bowyer was already without 13 first-team players through injury when some of his players were struck down by vomiting and diarrhoea before Saturday's game.

The game was level with 10 minutes to go, after Macauley Bonne cancelled out Steven Fletcher's opener, but Fletcher struck from the spot before Atdhe Nuhiu wrapped things up in stoppage time.

Bowyer said: "It was a tough day. We've got enough injuries, but then to chuck in a few illnesses as well doesn't help. It was a bit of everything. Sickness, diarrhoea, not good.

"Ben Purrington was down to start, but he was ill just before we got on the coach, so we had to send him home.

"Then once we got here and put the team sheet in, Albie Morgan was being sick just before the game. We couldn't do anything about that.

"We just had to see how he went. Then again at half-time he was sick. That's why we took him off. He couldn't move in the end.

"I hate losing. I think that's quite obvious to see but I've just said to the players: 'Hold your heads up high. You should be proud of putting on a great team performance.'

"They can't give any more that what they are giving out there. We were in the game right up until the 80th minute."

Bowyer is boosted, however, by the club's proposed takeover by Abu Dhabi-based corporation East Street Investments.

He added: "I've spoken to the potential new owners and it was a positive conversation. If they do get the green light from the EFL, it's going to be good news for the football club.

"They have said that there is money to spend in January and that me and the staff are going to get proper contracts.

"It sounds good, so we need to start planning for January. It'll be nice to be able to strengthen the squad if we can."

Wednesday manager Garry Monk expressed his delight as his side ended a five-match winless run.

Monk said: "I'm pleased for the players because we've had a lot of frustration recently where we've played as well as that, we haven't taken our chances and a couple of costly mistakes have probably caused us not to win more games.

"We know that, but we wanted to show today that we still had the belief and character to respond even though we've had a tricky period where we haven't won games when we have deserved to.

"We've taken leads in games and something has gone against us, but I saw the belief in the players today. We could easily have felt sorry for ourselves today when they equalised, but we didn't and we showed a great response. I think it was a deserved win."

body check tags ::

Click here for more stories about Lee Bowyer

Click here for more stories about Charlton Athletic

Share this article now:
Instagram - Follow Sports Mole
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer on October 5, 2019
Read Next:
Lee Bowyer claims both Luton goals should have been ruled out in Charlton defeat
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14131032122040
2Manchester CityMan City1492339162329
3Leicester CityLeicester139223182329
4Chelsea148242820826
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs145542421320
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves134721816219
7Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd134631612418
8Burnley145362020018
9Arsenal134631819-118
10Crystal Palace145361318-518
11Manchester UnitedMan Utd134541915417
12Bournemouth144461820-216
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham144461723-616
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle144461322-916
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton144371621-515
16Aston Villa134271920-114
17Everton134271320-714
18Southampton143381532-1712
19Norwich CityNorwich133191328-1510
20Watford14158928-198

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!