Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has heaped praise on Aston Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer after his penalty heroics helped them reach the Championship play-off final at the expense of West Brom. 

Steer spent the first half of the season on loan at the Valley but returned to his parent club in January whilst Charlton progressed into the League One play-offs.

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“I’m over the moon for Jed," Bowyer told the club's official Twitter account.

"He came to us, worked hard every day and I think Andy Marshall improved him.

"His professionalism was outstanding and hard work is always rewarded. We wish him all the best in the final.”

Craig Dawson's first half header swung the momentum firmly in the favour of the Baggies, levelling the scores 2-2 on aggregate but that is how it would remain for 90 minutes.

In the 80th minute, Chris Brunt went flying into a tackle on John McGinn on the edge of the West Brom box, earning him a second-yellow card in the process and making extra-time far easier than it could have been for Dean Smith's side.

And after an uneventful 30 minutes, it was penalties, and with Jed Steer saving from Mason Holgate and Ahmed Hegazi, it eventually fell to Tammy Abraham to seal the win which he did with ease.

The verdict

I am with Bowyer on this one.

It is very hard not to be delighted for Steer. He was deemed not good enough by Steve Bruce at the start of the season after the signing of Nyland, and by Smith in January after the signing of Kalinic.

But he kept at it and is seriously reaping the rewards now.