A poor game, played by two poor sides on an awful pitch, ended in stalemate.

The Addicks were without both full-backs, Chris Solly’s knee was, wisely, not risked on the heavy pitch and Rhoys Wiggins was absent as his partner was giving birth.

Chris Powell brought Cedric Evina in for Wiggins, with Lawrie Wilson dropping back to cover for Solly. Surprisingly, Powell broke up the effective Dale Stephens – Jordan Cousins central midfield partnership and played Stephens on the right.

Johnnie Jackson returned after suspension and replaced Stephens in the middle. Jackson had a poor game and was substituted as the game entered its denouement.

Bradley Pritchard was an absentee from the bench and Powell named youngsters, Harry Lennon and Joe Pigott, as substitutes.

The first half was a dreadful affair, though the state of the pitch played a significant part in the quality of the match.

The game sprang into life shortly after the restart. Stephens took advantage of slack marking by Wednesday’s defence to run onto a Wilson throw. The midfielder cut inside, drifted past a defender and dinked the ball over Chris Kirkwood to open the scoring.

Wednesday’s main threat came down the Charlton left and it was this route that provided the Owls with their equaliser.

Chris Maguire’s cross found its way to Kieran Lee, whose shot was going in, before Connor Wickham applied the finishing touch on the line. The Sunderland loanee looked suspiciously offside.

Both sides had chances to snatch the win, Simon Church went close with a glancing header and also fired over when well placed in stoppage time.

Ben Alnwick made a fine save with his feet from Roger Johnson’s header when the visitors created another chance down the Charlton left.

Dorian Dervite and Danny Green replaced Cameron Stewart and Johnnie Jackson seventeen minutes from time, as Powell decided to settle for a point. The Addicks spent much of the final few minutes penned in their own half.

Charlton: Alnwick; Wilson, Morrison, Wood, Evina; Stephens, Cousins, Jackson (Green 73), Stewart (Dervite 73); Kermorgant, Church.

Subs (not used): Pope, Hughes, Lennon, Sordell, Pigott.

Booked: Evina 87 (foul), Green 90 (persistent fouling).

Goal: Stephens (47)

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland; Palmer, Roger Johnson, Loovens, Reda Johnson; Lee, McPhail (Maghoma 54), Semedo, Maguire; Helan (Nuhiu 55), Wickham.

Subs (not used): Martinez, Johnson, McCabe, Mattock, Llera.

Booked: McPhail 25 (foul).

Goal: Wickham (59).

Referee: Fred Graham (Essex).

Attn: 16,377 (1,671 Sheffield Wednesday).