Lee Bowyer questions if Charlton players can handle the pressure of League One play-off chase

Lee Bowyer’s Charlton snapped a poor run of form against Wigan
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Charlton manager Lee Bowyer has accused some of his players of being unable to handle the pressure of battling for a top-six finish in League One.

Bowyer's side have fallen away from the play-off places following a run of just three wins from 15 matches before Tuesday night's 1-0 victory at basement club Wigan.

The manager made seven changes from the dismal 3-0 home defeat by Blackpool and revealed he gave the squad Sunday off to "re-evaluate" their situation.

"I just felt that me and everybody else talking about the top six got to the players and maybe some of them couldn't handle that pressure," said Bowyer.

"Some can take pressure, some can't. That's why I decided to take the steps I have and try to unload from them of all that pressure, get back to basics and go and enjoy the game.

"We tried to take the pressure off them, then let's see how they go once the pressure's off. [Last night's] a good start but it's something we have to build on.

"Every single one who started and came on, they all played a big part last night. I don't doubt the players, I know they try but my job is to try and get a bit more. Maybe I was trying to get something that wasn't quite there. That's why I took a little step back from it. I have to keep pushing them because if not they don't improve."

The Addicks face a six-pointer against fellow play-off hopefuls Oxford on Saturday and Bowyer says some of his squad now have a point to prove.

"Not just to me but [it's about] proving something to yourself," he added. "Every player, they've got to take pride in their performances. If you want to play in my team, you have to persuade me. Yesterday a lot of them did. I made seven changes, that's a lot of changes from Saturday so people came in and they've done well."

Charlton owner Thomas Sandgaard has targeted Premier League football within five years so the team's slide down the table has left Bowyer under pressure.

"Do I put any more pressure on myself because now I've got an owner who cares? No, because I put that pressure on myself every week anyway," he said. "I don't need someone else to tell me that. That's what I was born to do, to try and win."

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