CHARLTON manager Chris Powell heaped more misery on Lee Bradbury and then backed Cherries’ beleaguered boss to turn the tide.

Powell’s League One leaders sentenced Cherries to a fourth successive defeat when Yann Kermorgant’s late goal earned them a 1-0 win at Seward Stadium on Saturday.

The Frenchman’s last-gasp headed winner settled the issue deep into stoppage time as Cherries’ fast-fading play-off hopes took another major dent.

An ill-deserved ninth home league defeat of the season left Cherries in 12th position, eight points adrift of the top six, and increased the pressure on Bradbury.

Appointed just days before Bradbury in January 2011, Powell came through a sticky spell at the start of his managerial career before reviving the fortunes of the Addicks this season.

In an interview with the Daily Echo, Powell, who rebuilt his squad in the summer, said: “Lee is a young manager and I can empathise with him. When I took over, I won my first four games and then won two of the next 19.

“We had a tough time and a lot of the games were similar to today when we did okay but got done by a sucker punch and it was hard to take.

“Management is pressure but I feel he is a good man to lead this club. Young managers need time and stability.

“He has got some good players and, if he could get one or two more and keep building, he could move this club up. But you have got to be realistic. It is a good club with decent support but there are a lot of clubs with a lot of financial support which can outdo Bournemouth.

“For me, it was more about evolution than revolution. I felt I needed a fresh squad and managed to get in a number of players who wanted to prove themselves and I think it will be the same with Lee.”

Powell, whose squad strengthening saw him swoop for Cherries pair Danny Hollands and Rhoys Wiggins, still feels Bradbury has a chance of repeating last season’s top-six finish.

He added: “They have got some tough games coming up and are probably going to need one or two things to go for them. But, while you have still got enough points available, you have got to go for it. That is why the play-offs were introduced.

“For a club of this stature, what they achieved last season was outstanding. They were superb. Sadly for them, I nicked two of their players but I still feel they have an outside chance of again making the play-offs.”