Bowyer praises young Charlton side as they bow out of FA Cup to West Brom

Kenneth Zohore’s first half strike was enough to send Slaven Bilic’s side into the next round against a much-changed Charlton outfit who are amidst an injury crisis.

With only four bonafide first team players in the starting XI, Bowyer hailed players form the youth set-up as they restricted a Baggies side boasting a number of household names on their team sheet.

“I can’t fault them, I thought they did well,” he said of Brendan Wiredu, Abraham Odoh, Toby Stevenson, Josh Davison, James Vennings and Aaron Henry.

“We were in it, to have that many young players out there, they’ve done themselves proud.

“I thought my team gave everything, at times we lacked quality, in the first half in final third we rushed it and panicked a bit.

“But overall we restricted them.

“We changed it and second half we were in the game.

“They didn’t let me down, we just lost 1-0 to a very good West Brom side.

“We’ve got a 16-year-old in Aaron Henry out there playing against people I played against in Gareth Barry.

“He’s got so much experience, so for Aaron to be playing against him, Chris Brunt, Charlie Austin, to be playing against them lads, it’ll only do them good for the future.

“They’ll get so much experience from that game.

“They didn’t let me down, that’s all I ask.”

Henry, 16, was the pick of the Addick’s crop, with many like Vennings, Davison, Odoh and Wiredu all previously having tasted first team action.

Aaron Henry

Speaking of the potential the youngster has Bowyer warned there needs to be some patience with his development.

“It’s tough to tell so soon, all I can say is he trains with us here and there, last season and this season.

“We try to take a couple of the younger lads to get some experience of being in and around the first team, so they know what to expect. It’s normally a reward for performing well in the u18s.

“Aaron’s been up a few times, he’s a good midfielder, a good range of passing, he can score goals, a good player.”