Wednesday waltz through Charlton in dominant display

Sheffield Wednesday continued their purple patch with a comfortable 2-0 victory over struggling Charlton.

The afternoon became a stroll on the beach for the Owls as goals from George Byers and Callum Paterson saw the side move into the playoffs after a seventh win in nine outings.

Darren Moore elected for three changes with Saido Berahino and Paterson, the scorers from their comeback victory at Doncaster, as well as Sam Hutchinson all returning.

Juan Castillo and Jonathan Leko were casualties for the travellers with Ben Purrington and Elliot Lee receiving the nod.

The Owls came out roaring rather than hooting as they took the game to the London side grasping the lead inside five minutes.

Intricate play from the Wednesday midfield allowed Jack Hunt freedom down the right-hand side. Fouled as he crossed in, the hosts were awarded a free-kick.

Skipper Barry Bannan’s ensuing delivery was expertly flicked-on by Byers and into the far post.

Their persistence for a second began after Berahino’s astute hold-up play started another Wednesday move. Byers then made up for Bannan’s loose pass winning his 50/50 battle. It spilled out to the captain who skipped inside but his curled effort sailed wide of the mark.

Moore’s Owls kept on pecking at the Charlton goal. Bannan thumped a quick free-kick long into the path of the Burundi international who excellently plucked down the ball and laid off Hunt.

His near-post cross was well-defended to prevent Paterson from gaining contact.

Wednesday would eventually get a second before the interval. Marvin Johnson, slipped in by Massimo Luongo, squared from the byline for Paterson to gobble up the chance and double their lead.

The away side offered such little threat that it was the Owls that gifted them their first opportunity. Johnson, reluctant to clear it, dribbled into the Charlton frontline. Mason Burstow took the chance quickly but his shot was easily saved by Peacock-Farrell.

Jackson had made all three changes but Wednesday still probed for another. Bannan’s floated cross was headed towards their own goal with Johnson on the scene to lash it goalwards but a knick took it away from adding a third.

The rest of the second-half was played on cruise control by the hosts as they coasted to the final whistle.

Playoff football beckons for the South Yorkshire side whilst Charlton trudged back home with a fifth-straight defeat.

Three points were in the bag but the victory provided other benefits. Paterson proved to be handful once again, Wednesday’s midfield trio flourished and Berahino showed glimpses of his former-self in an inspired display.