Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has offered his thoughts ahead of this weekend's London derby clash with Millwall at The Den.

The Addicks will be keen to claim the bragging rights against the Lions and, in the build up, Bowyer has emphasised the importance of coming away with all three points in the derby showdown.

“The most important thing is the three points," Bowyer told his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon, reported by the club's official Twitter account.

[freshpress-poll ]

"We want to give our fans a good journey home and give them the bragging rights because they’ve been great for us.

"Hopefully on Saturday we can repay them for their efforts.”

Charlton have not beaten the Lions since 1996, a match in which Bowyer actually scored, so it is no surprise that only a win will do for them this time around.

Both sides come into the match with a mixed vein of form behind them with Charlton having not won any of their last three games; losing to Bristol City and Preston either side of a point away to West Brom.

Millwall have won just one of their last four but under the guidance of new manager Gary Rowett will be looking to build some serious momentum following a slow start to the season.

The verdict

I think this is exactly the attitude that Bowyer should be taking in the build up.

Having played for Charlton it would have been dishonest of him to play down the seriousness of the clash when even he would not have been able to believe himself.

A win on Saturday for either side could act as a serious springboard for either club so expect to see both going for it from the start.