Lee Bowyer is expecting the play-off race to go down to the final day of the season.

The Addicks are in the top six on goal difference and only a point separates fifth from ninth.

The caretaker boss, who has won his first three games in charge, told News Shopper: “I’ve not known the play-offs to be this tight before, but this league is very competitive and there are a lot of good teams in this division.

“So I’m sure it’ll go right to the end. That’s why we need to keep carrying on winning games and put ourselves out of touch before then.

“There will be twists and turns, of course, it’s football. Who would've predicted Liverpool would beat Manchester City 3-0? Nobody.

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“But it happens and you just can’t predict football. I’m sure what we do on the training pitch and in games will decide where we finish.”

Bowyer took over a Charlton side that looked dead and buried. They were in ninth place and five points from the play-offs with just one win in eight games.

And since replacing Karl Robinson last month, he has managed to turn the club into serious promotion challengers.

When asked if anything less than a top-six finish would be a failure, he said: “Yeah [because] I want to get into the play-offs.

“I want to get this club back into the Championship. I’m a winner and that’s what I believe we can do. If we don’t, then it won’t be for the want of trying.

“So I’m a positive person and I believe in the squad of players that I have. We’re all going to pull together, work hard and see where that takes us.”

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