A Steven Fletcher brace and a late Atdhe Nuhiu strike ended Sheffield Wednesday’s five game winless run, as the Owls secured a 3-1 win away at Charlton Athletic.
Garry Monk made four changes from The Owls’ midweek stalemate with Birmingham City, most notably Fernando Forestieri returned to the starting XI for the first time under Monk’s tenure.
Wednesday were also forced into a change at the back with Tom Lees returning from injury to replace the suspended Julian Borner, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season on Wednesday night.
The Owls started bright at The Valley, with Atdhe Nuhiu Steven Fletcher starting up top in a changed 4-4-2 formation.
Nuhiu thought he had put the visitors in front in the early stages when he glanced home a Barry Bannan free kick but celebrations were cut short when he saw the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.
Just ten minutes later Wednesday would take the lead, again it was Bannan’s perfect delivery met by the head of Steven Fletcher who diverted the ball into the opposite bottom corner.
It should have been two a matter of minutes later, Kadeem Harris beating his man on the flank before crossing for Fletcher whose header was parried by Phillips.
The visitors were soon made to regret not doubling their lead when a much-depleted Charlton side, who were only able to name five substitutes, levelled on 26 minutes through a deflected Macauley Bonne effort.
The Owls continued to dominate proceedings after the interval, Barry Bannan testing the Charlton number one with a number of long-range efforts.
Kadeem Harris almost put Wednesday back in the lead midway through the second half when he found space and fired low but was denied by a great Phillips save.
Then on 80 minutes Jacob Murphy, who came on for the injured Forestieri at half time, was clumsily brought down by Oztumer as he made his way into the area.
After a moment’s thought, referee Tim Robinson pointed to the spot giving Fletcher the chance to notch his second goal of the game. He made no mistake, sending Dillan Phillips the wrong way.
After the ‘keeper had played mind games with the Scot before the penalty, Fletcher ensured he made his celebrations known to the Charlton stopper.
The Addicks tried to pile the pressure on a defence who have made a habit of conceding late on to drop points this season.
This time however, as the game entered four minutes of additional time, it was Wednesday who scored late as Nuhiu wrapped up the points on the break.
Reach breezed past his man before lifting his head and aiming the ball to the back post where the big man was on hand to head into the roof of the net to send the travelling 3,000 Wednesdayites barmy.
Charlton Athletic: Phillips; Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Doughty, Oshilaja, Pratley, Morgan (61’ Vennings), Oztumer (81’ Davison), Leko, Bonne.
Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson; Odubajo, Iorfa, Lees, Fox, Hutchinson (77’ Luongo), Bannan, Harris (81’ Reach), Forestieri (45’ Murphy), Nuhiu, Fletcher.
Bookings: Charlton: Phillips (81’), Lockyer (89’)
Sheffield Wednesday: Hutchinson (38’), Nuhiu (84’)
Scorers: Charlton: Bonne (26’)
Sheffield Wednesday: Fletcher (17’, 81’), Nuhiu (90+4’)
HT: 1-1
FT: 1-3
Attendance: 18,338
Man of the match: Barry Bannan.
Sheffield Wednesday end winless streak on trip to the capital
