Owls outclassed by Addicks

It was another early cup exit for the Owls as Premier League Charlton Athletic dumped Paul Sturrock's side out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle in a 4-2 win. The Owls had fancied their chances of an upset having gone into the game on the back of two successive league wins, whilst Alan Curbishley's Charlton have been out of sorts in their respective league campaign.

Sturrock was forced into four changes to the team that had swept aside Crewe earlier in the week with Nicky Weaver (loan clause), Deon Burton (cup tied), John Hills (suspended)

But it took just 12 minutes before the visitors had the lead - winger Dennis Rommedahl was in acres of space in the Owls penalty box and side footed the ball home for 1-0. It took just four minutes for Wednesday's reply. It came from a Chris Brunt corner that was flicked back towards goal by Graham Coughlan, and there the unlikely head of full-back Paul Heckingbottom drew the Owls level. The former Bradford City player has been told he has no future at the club, but was in the side today in the absence of John Hills.

There were more goals to come before the break as ten minutes later the visitors restored their lead. Bryan Hughes set up captain Matt Holland who calmly slotted in.

The fourth goal of a frantic first half fell to Charlton who gave themselves a handy two goal cushion thanks to a second from Rommedahl. Holland powered his way through a couple of tackles before laying off to Bent, who in turn set up Rommedahl who made it 3-1 with only minutes until the break.

Half-time: Owls 1-3 Charlton

Paul Sturrock had named a substitutes bench that left very few attacking options with a goalkeeper, two midfielders, a defender and a defender cum striker Lee Bullen but his troops soldiered on as the rain continued to fall at Hillsborough. Glenn Whelan tested from long range whilst Burton O'Brien, still on the look out for that elusive first goal in Wednesday colours, saw one of his efforts go just wide.

On the hour mark the Owls found themselves back in it. A left wing cross from Chris Brunt was nodded down by defender Richard Wood and up popped full-back Heckingbottom for his second. Despite Wednesday's goal scoring problems it was a defender they had to thank, and a player not wanted at that. Nevertheless it the lead was cut to a single goal, and the Owls right back in it.

With quarter of an hour left Sturrock turned to Bullen to help try and find a late equaliser. The Owls huffed and puffed but a lack of quality showed in the end and with just four minutes left, and the Owls pushing forward in numbers, Darren Bent used his pace to get in behind the back four and score Charlton's fourth and final goal of an entertaining but disappointing afternoon for the Owls.

Paul Sturrock's post match comments:
"They had five clear-cut chances, scored four - and three of them were created by our side and backward passes. The fourth goal epitomised it. We're tippy-tappying in our left-back area and with one long ball they put it in the back of our net. The way that has brought us success is to make sure our strikers are our playmakers and get balls wide and crosses in the box. When we deviate from that and try to be this silky football team it causes us concern."

"When we put the ball in box, with the types of players we've brought to the club, we're going to score goals. We've scored seven goals in three games because they've listened to the manager. Offensively as a unit I was quite happy. But defensively I'm not because we've lost four goals at home."