Solid if unspectacular performance
Sheffield Wednesday’s League One campaign began with a hard-earned point at the Valley as Charlton Athletic’s physical approach caused them problems in a game in which neither side did enough to deserve three points.
Wednesday made just one change to the side that were defeated in the League Cup last weekend, Brown coming in for the injured Shodipo. The Owls bench included plenty of new signings but they were without striker Lee Gregory and defender Lewis Gibson who both signed late in the week.
Charlton were looking to make the most of the physical stature of Jayden Stockley and the striker was involved in the first real action point of the game. On 15 minutes Callum Paterson headed away a Charlton corner under pressure from Stockley and was knocked out in the challenge, receiving attention for over 7 minutes on the pitch. Thankfully the club later confirmed that although Paterson had been knocked out, he was able to recover and was walking around. The Scot was replaced by Florian Kamberi following the incident.
In a first half of little goal mouth action at either end Stockley headed the best chance wide from a free-kick for the hosts. Charlton upped the tempo at the start of the second half with Stockley going close to getting on the end of a teasing Gunter cross and midfielder Morgan twice shooting wide.
The Owls were struggling to get up in support of Kamberi in attack with the ineffective Green being replaced by new signing Marvin Johnson, who did look a little more lively. As the game wore on Liam Palmer saw a speculative strike from the edge of the penalty area deflected wide before Bannan went closest to winning the game. The diminutive midfielder picked up the ball midway inside the home sides half following a loose clearance from the Charlton keeper, he jinked inside one tackle, nut-megged another Addick’s defender and advanced into the penalty area only to place his shot just wide of the goal.
It was a far from fluid performance from Darren Moore’s team but it was at least solid enough, with Owls keeper Peacock-Farrell not having to make a single save on his league debut for the club. With more new attacking players to gel into the team in the coming games that is clearly an area for improvement but an away point represents a decent start.