Charlton 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1
Charlton returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at The Valley to move up to ninth in the Sky Bet Championship.
Sonny Carey and Reece Burke put the Addicks ahead after a dominant first half but Jamal Lowe grabbed a goal back with 20 minutes to go to ensure a tense finish before Wednesday goalkeeper Ethan Horvath was sent off in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
The Addicks are now just a point off the play-off places ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Ipswich Town.
Nathan Jones made one change to the side that played Preston North End before the October international break with Amari’i Bell returning to the starting lineup, in place of Kayne Ramsay, who moved to the bench.
The Addicks’ first look at goal came just eight minutes into the game when the ball dropped at the feet of Burke in the Owls box and his left-footed shot was blocked behind for a corner.
Three minutes later came Wednesday’s best chance of the opening half, a deep cross found Jamal Lowe at the back post, who timed his nudge on his defender well to create a heading opportunity from close range. His effort was straight at Thomas Kaminski who gathered comfortably.
The home side ramped up their pressure and took a 17th-minute lead with Carey scoring his third goal in as many home games. Burke’s slide tackle in the Charlton half won the ball back and Carey picked up the loose ball and fed Tyreece Campbell, who advanced forward and slipped the ball to Carey, continuing his run. The former Blackpool midfielder’s left-footed shot was blocked away by Horvath but Carey’s hunger to get the rebound created a second opportunity and he made no mistake lifting his right-footed shot into the roof of the net with Horvath unable to recover.
Wednesday defender Gabriel Otegbayo made a big recovery tackle to deny Charlie Kelman after the Addicks striker had used his body well to get in behind the visitors’ defence.
The hosts’ second goal came in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half. Carey did well to win a free kick on the right wing. James Bree’s whipped set piece was perfect and Burke was first to it, nodding home from close range.
Charlton started the second half well and the dangerous Carey cut onto his left and forced another low save from Horvath.
The Addicks appeared to be cruising to a comfortable win before Lowe pulled a goal back. Sean Fusire’s low shot from outside the area hit the post and rebounded off the unfortunate Kaminski into the path of Lowe who had a simple tap-in.
Nathan Jones’ side saw out the win and in the seventh minute of stoppage time Horvath was given his marching orders after taking out Tanto Olaofe, who had beaten him to a long ball forward.
The Addicks are back at The Valley in a fortnight for the visit of Swansea City. Click here to purchase your ticket.
Charlton: Kaminski; Burke (Ramsay 76), Jones, Gillesphey; Bree (Rankin-Costello 89), Carey (Knibbs 76), Coventry, Docherty (c), Bell; Kelman (Olaofe 61), Campbell (Leaburn 60)
Subs (not used): Mannion, Berry, Hernández, Apter
Goals: Carey 17, Burke 45+1
Assists: Bree 45+1
Booked: Coventry 10 (foul on Ingelsson)
Sheffield Wednesday: Horvath, Palmer, M.Lowe, Iorfa (Fusire 34), Valery, Ingelsson (Ugbo 66), J.Lowe, Bannan (c), Amass, Otegbayo (McNeill 80), Brown (Cadamateri 66)
Subs (not used): Stretch, Johnson, Emery, Alao, Fernandes
Goal: Lowe 70
Booked: Otegbayo 7 (foul on Carey), Fusire 85 (foul on Olaofe)
Referee: Tom Reeves
Attendance: 23,009 (3,090 from Sheffield Wednesday)
