Charlton Athletic acted as party poopers as a 2-1 victory over Wednesday ended any hopes of a Steel City derby clash in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Goals from Callum Harriot and Simon Church were enough to see the Addicks through to the last-eight and a date at Bramall Lane. Leon Best had the Owls on level terms but it was not Wednesday’s night at Hillsborough.
Owls boss Stuart Gray made a number of changes to the side that defeated Huddersfield Town 2-0 at the weekend, with Damian Martinez coming in for Chris Kirkland in goal, while Benik Afobe and Leon Best started up front and Glenn Loovens came into the defence.
Both sides came into the game on the back of weekend wins, with Charlton beating QPR with a last-minute winner, but it was the visitors who made the brighter start as Wednesday looked nervous early on.
Astrit Ajdarevic had a couple of good chances for the Londoners when his first attempt was blocked by Miguel Llera and his second went trickling wide of the post to the relief of those behind the goal in the Kop.
Charlton didn’t have to wait long to get their just rewards, however, as Elliott struck a neat finish beyond Martinez to gov the visitors the lead and silence the near-25,000 crowd at S6.
It took Wednesday time to settle down but when they did they were limited to long-range strikes before half-time. Gary Gardner struck one powerful effort just wide which lifted the home support and then Best took a long ball down well and powered a shot into the arms of Ben Hamer.
Wednesday needed a better start to the second half and they got one as Jacques Maghoma and Giles Coke threatened the Charlton goal and that start was rewarded ten minutes in when Best struck his first goal since returning on-loan to level things up.
Gray introduced Atdhe Nuhiu and Caolan Lavery as the hosts looked to build on their goal but instead it was Charlton who regained the lead soon after somewhat against the run of play.
A foul by Miguel Llera on Church gave Johnnie Jackson the chance to whip in a free-kick and Church was there to prod home what turned out to be the winner.
The Owls kept plugging away and Nuhiu was unfortunate to see an effort from a Chris Maguire cross come back off the post and into the arms of a relieved Hamer.
It wasn’t Wednesday’s day and two minutes from time Coke’s goal bound shot struck the back of Best and went straight into the arms of Hamer.
The Owls’ cup dream was over and instead of visiting Bramall Lane in the last eight, they’ll now be visiting Yeovil in the Championship.
Wednesday: Martinez, Palmer, Loovens, Llera, Mattock, Maghoma, Coke, Gardner (Nuhiu 58), Maguire (Lavery 58), Afobe (Helan 74), Best.
Charlton: Hamer, Jackson, Morrison, Church (Ghoochanneejhad 85), Harriott, Wood (Dervite 90), Wilson, Cousins, Fox, Poyet, Ajdarevic (Hughes 90).
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