The referees opening whistle has barely left his lips when the first free-kick of the game is awarded, Charlton's Yann Kermorgant fouling Miguel Llera deep inside the Wednesday half. An early Michail Antonio cross just evades the on-rushing Kieran Lee as the Owls start brightly. The travelling fans almost have an early goal to cheer when after 4mins Jermaine Johnson rattled a shot towards goal - only for defender Matt Taylor to block and before a follow-up shot can be fired Giles Cole is penalised for a foul on Dale Stephens. The Wednesday midfielder is shown the games first yellow just a minute later and will now have to be careful for 85mins. Charlton are first to test a keeper, a Scott Wagstaff effort from 25 yards comfortably saved by Chris Kirkland. The home side look dangerous on attack and a Stephens cross causes alarm when Kermorgant connects and fires his shot just wide. 20mins in and Antonio teases his marker before sending a cross into the box and ex-Owl Michael Morrison clears the ball for a Wednesday corner. Debutant loanee Danny Pugh takes the set-piece and Anthony Gardner is first to it - heading the ball goal-ward and forcing Ben Hamer into a brilliant save before the ball is cleared off the line. The 27th minute sees a chance go begging for Charlton when a whipped Wagstaff cross finds Cedric Evina in the box, the Cameroonian falls in the box and the referee allows play to continue letting Gardner clear. After seeing a handful of his crosses not met by a Wednesday player, Antonio takes his own chance on the 31st min - Coke laying the ball off and Antonio's shot flying wide of the right hand post. When Lewis Buxton is adjudged to have fouled Wagstaff, Charlton pack the area but Stephens set-piece is met by the towering Gardner. Bradley Pritchard works a shot moments later but finds Llera in the way and Wednesday clear their lines. The Addicks are pressing well and Johnnie Jackson finds Gardner blocking his effort at goal before Buxton sees yellow for a foul on Wagstaff. Stephens' set-piece is dangerous and moments later a leaping Morrison heads against the upright as the game comes closest to seeing its first goal. 2 quick fouls by Charlton prevent Wednesday making much progression up the pitch so a speculative 30 yard shot by J.Johnson gives Hamer nothing to worry about, flying harmlessly wide. The home side are ending the half on top and 3 frustrated fouls by Wednesday result in a corner for the Addicks which Stephens whips in only for Buxton to clear before Wagstaff can fashion a shot. On the 43rd minute the Owls come close, Hamer somehow drops the ball to the feet of Reda Johnson but the powerful defender squirms his shot wide in front of an open goal from only 6-yards out.
HT. Neither side the dominant force in that opening 45mins with both teams coming close and defences really on top. It makes it 7 league games where Wednesday haven't conceded in the first half as Dave Jones back-line grows in confidence with each match. The half time food is a McDonalds Chicken Legend meal (with extra wrap) - so I'm more than ready for the second half!
SWFC kick off the second half and are quick onto the attack, a J.Johnson through ball pass to Lee forces an early corner. Pugh's corner is claimed well by Hamer and Charlton launch into a quick break - Chris Solly sending in an inviting cross that Pritchard pulls down into the path of Jackson allowing the midfielder to sweep home and give Charlton the lead. A few minutes of end to end attacking ends with an Antonio effort from inside the area flashing inches wide in a let off for the Addicks. A minute later and Lee makes way for another debutant loanee - Leroy Lita who joins from Swansea until the end of the season. The forward is quick into the action when his shot is deflected for a corner barely a minute after entering the game. Pugh's corner bounces around and claims of a Charlton handball are waved away as Kermorgant smashes clear. The Owls up the tempo and J.Johnson picks up the ball at the centre circle, then beats the whole Charlton defence before cracking a shot just wide in what would have been a fantastic solo goal. Lita is found in space a few minutes later and his snapshot is comfortably saved by the 6ft 4in Hamer to keep the Addicks 1-0 up but the introduction of Lita has galvanised the Wednesday team. As the hour mark passes, J.Johnson tries his luck again and his shot clears the crossbar ... the fans ... and the stand - a light hearted standing ovation from the away end in mock celebration for the Jamaican follows. When Wagstaff fires a shot wayward the break in play allows Gary Madine to enter the game - replacing Pugh. Not one to shy away from shooting, Wagstaff has another attempt at goal but this time he hits the post as Charlton look to add to the scoreline whilst on top. On the 71st minute Charlton break again - Stephens having a shot from 20 yards blaze over the bar when he had the chance to control and advance on goal. That fright gives Wednesday fresh impetus and Antonio has a shot blocked by Taylor before the same man gets in the way of Madines strike. As the visitors press for an equalising goal that the performance deserves, Buxton lifts in a high floating cross that R.Johnson climbs highest to meet, looping his head over Hamer and into the back of the net. The goal caps a good performance and the away end bounce away in delight. As Charlton look to restore their lead, an 88th minute counter attack by Wednesday sees J.Johnson with ball - after beating 4 Charlton men he slots the ball into the path of Lita whose shot deflects off of Morrison and beats Hamer, the Owls have turned the game on its head and now lead 1-2! The 89th minute sees Stephens have a long range strike fly harmlessly over and spark a flurry of substation activity. Danny Green replaces Evina, Ricardo Fuller replaces Lawrie Wilson, Bradley Wright-Phillips replaces Dale Stephens and finally Wednesday replace J.Johnson with former Addick Jose Semedo. The game closes with the Owls keeping Charlton at bay and a frustrated Kermorgant sees yellow and finally a time-wasting Llera enters the referees book and gets a yellow card too. The full-time whistle is blown.
FT. What a brilliant end to the match! Wednesday fans were confident going into the game and the players did themselves proud in that performance yet again. Charlton will feel sickened with the 2 late goals and hitting the woodwork twice. There seems to be a bit of a rivalry brewing between the 2 sets of fans as the Addicks are somehow annoyed at the jokey 'massive' tag but today it's the northern fans going home happy after doing the double over Charlton.
Attendance: 20,292
Owls Man of the Match: Reda Johnson (massive man, massive header, massive performance)
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