ALAN IRVINE’S inspired half-time reshuffle salvaged a point for Sheffield Wednesday after his side were stunned by two early Charlton goals.
Scott Wagstaff’s opener and a Johnnie Jackson penalty in the first six minutes had put the Addicks firmly in the driving seat.
But Irvine threw Paul Heffernan into the action at the break – and it only took a minute for the striker to drag the Owls back into the game.
Reda Johnson then marked his home debut by scoring the equaliser on 51 minutes to earn Wednesday a share of the points.
However, Irvine, who also brought on Jermaine Johnson as part of his half-time rethink, still wasn’t happy.
“At half-time, I told the team it wasn’t acceptable,” fumed the Owls boss. “There were people who did not want the ball and were hiding. To me it still feels like two points lost.”
After being announced as the new Charlton boss on Friday, Chris Powell was in the stands as Keith Peacock temporarily took the reins.
Powell had hardly got to his seat before his new side were ahead. Joe Anyinsah’s floating ball fell to Wagstaff and though home keeper Nicky Weaver got in the way of the winger’s shot, the ball still crept under him and into the net.
The Hillsborough faithful were left even gloomier when Darren Purse went to ground in the area, dragging down Wagstaff with him.
Jackson sent Weaver the wrong way with the spot-kick for his twelfth League goal of the season.
The home crowd cheered up when referee Carl Boyeson pointed to the spot for Gary Doherty’s foul on Johnson. But Tommy Miller’s side footed penalty was matched by a magnificent save by Rob Elliot.
Irvine made his changes at the break, hauling off Neil Mellor and Gary Teale for Johnson and Heffernan.
Less than a minute later Clinton Morrison’s blocked shot was palmed into the direction of Heffernan, who fired a fierce shot into the roof of the net.
Five minutes later the game was level. Chris Sedgwick delivered a cross from the left touchline and Johnson rose highest to nod the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
Wednesday nearly stole all three points in injury time when Heffernan hit the inside of the post with a header.
Powell now takes over for Charlton’s next game against Plymouth with Peacock’s blessing.
The caretaker boss said: “Chris is a tremendous choice. Obviously he was very popular here as a player.”
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