As Chris Powell led his team from the coach to the Hillsborugh dressing rooms on Saturday, some raucous Wednesday fans chanted, “Who are you?” at him.

Powell took it with his normal good grace, smiled and shook his head. Those overly confident fans were not so happy at the end of the match when Powell had the last laugh.

The game attracted an astonishing 26,759 fans, more than a number of Premier League matches managed and larger than any Championship gate. Unfortunately, signal failure meant that several hundred Charlton fans missed the first half. Here’s what Powell had to say after the final whistle:

“I’m very proud of my players today. We dealt with a tough game against good opposition.

“We stood up to everything that was thrown at us today and the players showed a lot of resilience and character, words you have to use at times.

“We played some good stuff and created some good chances and one piece of quality won the game from my skipper.

“For us to come here and get a clean sheet and come away with three points is fantastic for us,”  said the manager.

A superlative Johnnie Jackson free-kick on the right gave ex-Addick, Nicky Weaver, no chance. The goal was worthy of winning any game. Wednesday cranked up the pressure with an aerial bombardment but Charlton’s rearguard withstood all that was thrown at it.

The Addicks had chances to kill the game off, Wright-Phillips, Pritchard and Russell all had opportunities to seal the match. Powell continued:

“I know Sheffield Wednesday at times can play. They have got some decent players here but also they are a big side and they do use that to full effect.

“We saw that in the second half when they were just loading the box but my defenders and my goalkeeper stood tall. They reacted to different situations really, really well.

“Every player played their part, my forwards came back and helped with the long throws into the box.

“It just shows I have got a team of good footballers but players that are ready to do the other side if they have to, and they definitely had to today.

“I felt they fully earned the points at the end.”

Powell got it spot on, despite Megson’s long ball tactics, Charlton had the better of the clear cut chances. The manager went on to give his view of Jackson’s free-kick:

“Set-plays can win you a game if things are tight like they were today.

“It just goes to show that if you put the practice in on the training field as John does as well as Yann and Danny Green, you can get your just rewards and we definitely got that today.

“We started off okay but we grew into the game. It was a big game for a lot of the players but they have earned the right to be in situations like this.

“We’ve carried on our good away form which is pleasing and we stood up to a tough team who are very tough to play against.

“We could have made the margin wider and Nicky Weaver made some good saves. Also we cleared one off the line at the end in injury time, so that just shows that the concentration from the players from the first second right to the end was first class.

“I applauded each and every one of them because they were fantastic today.

“Every game I win is satisfying let me tell you because in football management, you need to win games and get points but it was a big test and a huge game in different ways.

“I wanted my players to learn what its like to play in a real atmosphere and in front of a real partisan crowd but they handled that and did extremely well.

“It’s great when you see your team grow, not only in confidence, but grow together and learn how to win games and win tough games away on the road.

“It is a learning process for a lot of them, a new group but they have got a real togetherness and a real will to win and that was evident today and they got what they deserved,” purred Chris.

Powell was as animated as I have ever seen him on the touchline, he was clearly unhappy with the Wednesday bench. He explained:

“I know tempers and emotions run high. I’m quite a calm and composed man at times but I don’t like people swearing at my players or swearing at me. I think it’s uncalled for.”He (Megson) was swearing at a player who used to be here (Michael Morrison). Well, if he wanted him he should have kept him.

“He’s my player now and he led from the front and put in an outstanding performance alongside Matt Taylor.

“Contentious issues happen and if you want things to happen for you and they don’t, you get angry but you have to keep your emotions in check.

“I let myself down today, only because of what I heard but for the most part I conducted myself correctly and I felt my players did.

“The atmosphere was tense and when things are tight you should have a touch of class about yourself but the game’s done now, we won 1-0, three points and we go home,” said Powell before adding that Jose Semedo’s yellow card, awarded when he hauled Bradley Pritchard down, was the correct decision, “Jose Semedo’s booking was not a red card offense because it was in our half and was not a goalscoring opportunity.

“The only other way it could have been a dismissal is if the ref saw it as dangerous but he didn’t, he dealt with it as he saw fit and we move on,” concluded Chris.

Gary Megson’s remarks during the match may have upset Powell but Wednesday’s boss was magnanimous in defeat and had this to say about the Addicks:

“Charlton are the best side we have played this season. They have set the pace from day one and you can see why.

“The last thing you can do is give a well organised side like Charlton a goal start but I have to say it was a terrific strike.

“We huffed and puffed without causing them any real problems and too many of our players were under par.

“Most of our lads were ten per cent below their normal game and you can’t do that against anyone, let alone the league leaders,” said Megson.

So a really good afternoon’s work for Charlton. Second placed, Sheffield United, won for the eighth time in their last nine league games with a 3-0 win at Bury to keep up the pressure at the top.

Their visit to The Valley on Saturday is a game everyone will be relishing.