Tyreeq Bakinson’s late bullet header lifted Wednesday into second place in the division one table after a 1-0 win over Charlton at Hillsborough this afternoon.
The second successive victory lifts us onto seven points from three games, level on points with leaders Ipswich and just behind them on goal difference.
However, it looked an unlikely scoreline at half time, the Owls failing to muster a shot on target in an opening 45 minutes that lacked energy, cohesion and any attacking threat in the sweltering conditions.
The game changed just before the hour with Darren Moore’s decision to bring on three substitutes – Lee Gregory, George Byers and Bakinson – the switch bringing much-needed workrate, shape and creativity to the side in the final third of the game.
Gregory’s close control and movement, in particular, began to cause the Charlton defence problems and his initial ball started the move for the all-important goal. Josh Windass fed off the pass and crossed perfectly for Bakinson to send a towering header past keeper Joe Wollacott and into the Kop net to seal the points.
There was still time for Windass to send over a low centre for sub Sylla Sow and he saw his close-range effort come back off a defender with a second goal on the cards.
It was all a far cry from the opening hour, with Wednesday distinctly second best in the first half and failing to muster a shot on target.
Steven Sessegnon sent a fierce angled effort over the bar as the visitors posed the few on-goal threats and then we almost presented Charlton with an opening goal.
Ben Heneghan, Liam Palmer and David Stockdale got themselves in a mix-up over dealing with a through ball, it broke to Corey Blackett-Taylor 12 yards out but thankfully Palmer got back just in front of the line to block the effort.
Callum Paterson failed to get on the end of a low Windass cross soon after the interval while the dangerous Blackett-Taylor shot just wide at the other end.
Windass then set up Barry Bannan after seizing on a bad backpass but the Wednesday skipper scuffed his shot.
However, when Windass was provider again with 80 minutes gone his cross was powered home by Bakinson for his first competitive goal for the Owls and so preserving our unbeaten start to the season.
Stockdale, Hunt (James 72), Ihiekwe, Heneghan, Palmer, Johnson, Vaulks (Byers 58), Dele-Bashiru (Bakinson 58), Bannan (Sow 80), Paterson (Gregory 58), Windass. Unused subs: Dawson, Iorfa. Attendance 22,363.