Charlton boss Lee Bowyer delivers verdict on Middlesbrough, Stoke, Hull City and relegation battle

The Addicks dropped into the division’s bottom three after going down 1-0 to Boro at The Valley.

Yet with nine games to go and just three points separating 22nd-place Charlton and 17th-place Stoke, Bowyer knows there is still a long way to go.

“I think Middlesbrough will be in it, I think Hull are in it, obviously Wigan,” said Bowyer when asked about the relegation battle.

“If I’m honest I think Stoke will pull away, they should never be down there anyway, not with what they’ve got.

“There’s a good five teams fighting for one place I think and we’re one of them obviously.

“Hull are in it and we play them next week, it makes it a massive game, as big as this week I guess. But there’s a long, long way to go.”

Charlton have now lost their last three games and Bowyer couldn’t hide his frustrations following the Boro defeat.

“I’m frustrated and disappointed again. You can’t just give teams one goal, no matter what league you’re playing in,” Bowyer added.

“We’re not good enough to give teams a one-goal lead and then try to come back and win.

“We have to learn that you can’t afford to just gift teams goals. It’s amateur. You play a 10-yard pass and you put them through and then bang. Goal.

“It drives me mad after all we work on all week and then preparation just goes out the window.”