Charlton boss Lee Bowyer revels in ‘proudest moment of his career’ after Play-Off Final glory

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Charlton boss Lee Bowyer paid tribute to his promotion-winning heroes, declaring their Wembley triumph over Sunderland the proudest moment of his career.

Bowyer’s men came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 in Sunday's League One Play-Off Final, thanks to a 94th-minute winner from captain Patrick Bauer that earned promotion to the Championship.

The victory brings to an end Charlton’s three-year stay in the third tier, and crowns a magnificent first full season in charge for Bowyer, who also began his playing career with the club in the mid-nineties.

The 42-year-old’s achievements are all the more impressive when set against the backdrop of well-publicised off-field issues involving owner Roland Duchatelet.

Bauer's late strike sent the Charlton half of Wembley into ecstasy 
Getty Images

“To achieve what we’ve achieved this season is so remarkable,” Bowyer told Sky Sports.

“I'm so proud of players, they just keep going and going. I said it in the semi-finals, they just give me everything. They're a unique group of players.

“It's been some season, I'm proud of everyone. It's probably the proudest moment of my whole career. I'm delighted for this football club.

“I said to the fans come on this journey with us and we did. We filled our stadium and Wembley today. What a journey. My players and staff I can’t speak highly enough. I can’t thank them all enough for being part of this amazing day.”

It was far from plain sailing for the Addicks, who gifted Sunderland the early lead after a howler from goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, before Ben Purrington equalised to set up Bauer’s late heroics.

Goalkeeper Phillips made a horrible error early on but could celebrate come full-time
PA

“There's things that you can't control,” Bowyer added. “We couldn't control that [Phillips' mistake], it's just one of those freak things that happens in the game, but it just showed our character and our togetherness to come from behind.

“To concede that type of goal against such a good side… I was thinking 'now we’ll see who the men are' and they stepped up.

“After 15-20 minutes it settled down and then we controlled big parts of the game.”

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