Sheffield Wednesday were denied a much-needed Coca-Cola Championship win by Charlton goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, who pulled off three top-class saves in a 0-0 draw.

The former Manchester City keeper first kept out Owls defender Richard Wood's firm first-half header and just before the interval stopped on-loan striker Enoch Showunmi's snapshot with a fine one-handed reflex effort.

Wednesday did more than the visitors to justify any claims they deserved a win and in the second half Weaver proved Charlton's hero again when he produced another stunning save from Lee Bullen's volley.

Both sides were desperate for three points for different reasons, but Brian Laws will be the more disappointed of the two managers despite his struggling side ending a run of three straight league defeats.

The Owls have secured only two wins from their last 13 league matches, while Charlton's inconsistency continues to undermine their play-off challenge.

Showunmi almost got on the end of Marcus Tudgay's early flick on, while at the other end Luke Varney pulled his angled shot wide after racing through on goal.

Owls midfielder Graham Kavanagh was replaced by Ronnie Wallwork in the 18th minute, while the loudest noise mustered by a sparse home crowd came when Charlton defender Kelly Youga and home winger Jermaine Johnson were both booked for some pushing and shoving in the 23rd minute.

Wednesday wasted two decent free-kicks from Ronnie Wallwork, but from a third by Adam Bolder in the 34th minute Wood outjumped the visiting defence to head powerfully toward the bottom corner, only for Weaver to claw the ball away at full stretch.

Neat interplay between Zheng Zhi and Varney saw the latter cross for Matt Holland soon after, but although the Charlton skipper's shot rebounded off the post, the linesman's flag was raised for offside.

Just before the break, Wade Small played in Showunmi, but his instant shot was turned away by the acrobatic Weaver.

Straight from the restart, Tudgay latched on to Showunmi's header and skipped neatly round a challenge but failed to get his shot on target.

Small then lashed a shot high over the crossbar before Wednesday went close with the move of the match, a sweeping exchange between Showunmi and Tudgay that saw the latter just fail to get on the end of a slide-rule cross.

Wednesday showed considerably more appetite for the contest after the break and lifted the crowd on several occasions before Weaver pulled off another decisive save to thwart a volley from Lee Bullen.

Showunmi in particular was warming to his task and another barnstorming run in the 63rd minute resulted in a left-footed drive that whistled over the crossbar.

Varney had an effort ruled out for clear offside, but it Was the Owls who looked the more purposeful side, albeit without a cutting edge.

The home side had a let-off in the 77th minute when Zheng miscued from close-range after collecting a pass off substitute Chris Iwelumo's knee and Iwelumo headed inches wide in the 90th minute from Lee Cook's cross.

Teams:

Sheff Wed Grant, Bullen, Beevers, Wood, Spurr,Kavanagh (Wallwork 19), Johnson (Burton 89), Small, Bolder,Tudgay, Showunmi.

Subs Not Used: Gilbert, Hinds, McAllister.

Booked: Johnson, Bolder.

Charlton Weaver, McCarthy, Fortune, Halford,Youga (Semedo 45), Zhi, Holland, Ambrose, Sam (Cook 66),Gray (Iwelumo 63), Varney.

Subs Not Used: Sodje, Elliot.

Booked: Youga.

Att: 17,211

Ref: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).