Lee Bowyer: 'We are the better side' as Charlton boss blasts Shrewsbury for time-wasting
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer insists his side are a better team than Shrewsbury Town as they head into Sunday's second leg ready to make up a one-goal deficit.
The Addicks chief came out firing after his side were downed at The Valley thanks to a Jon Nolan stunner 10 minutes from time in last night's semi-final first leg.
The sides do battle at Montgomery Waters Meadow on Sunday where the aggregate winner will book a place in a Wembley showpiece against either Rotherham or Scunthorpe for a place in the Championship.
Bowyer, appointed in March, was far from pleased as he suggested that Paul Hurst's men were time-wasting from early on in the tie.
"If you are winning 1-0 with 10 minutes to go, I understand that – not from the beginning," complained Bowyer. "You have got 180 minutes of football to play. I don't believe in things like that."
The Valley boss continued: "I've just said to the lads 'listen, you've got 90 minutes, I'm telling you now, you're a far better side than what they are. A far better side.'
"But we have to go there and turn it around."
Hurst was surprised by the comments but took them with a pinch of salt.
The Shrewsbury manager responded: "I'm surprised at that. He's a very, very experienced player and now manager. We were never going to come and rush with 180 minutes to play.
"I've seen teams certainly do a hell of a lot worse. There were some moments where we were saying 'what's happening there?'
"I'm a little surprised at that. I was surprised right at the end when they left one person back with last corner.
"Had it been 30 seconds longer we could've had the opportunity to break.
"It's two games. Nothing's decided."
