Sheffield Wednesday again found their goalscoring Midas touch to plunge
Charlton into deeper relegation trouble at Hillsborough today.
The Addicks had looked comfortable in the opening period of the game before
Andy Booth struck his second goal in three matches after 13 minutes.
The Premier League strugglers attempted to fight back but Benito Carbone's
65th minute strike a killer blow.
Petter Rudi ended the match as a contest with 13 minutes remaining as
Wednesday registered their third three-goal haul in four games.
But it was another disappointing performance for Charlton manager Alan
Curbishley who has seen his side slip into the relegation quagmire following
just one win in their last eight.
Wednesday appeared to be struggling in the early stages as they failed to
settle against the upbeat visitors.
And after just 40 seconds, the Addicks should have taken the lead but a
fortunate deflection in the six-yard area took the ball clear of Pavel Srnicek's
goal with Neil Redfearn and Mark Kinsella unable to fathom how they had both
missed the opportunity.
Indeed Charlton's display belied their recent run of poor form as Danny Mills
and Chris Powell urged their team forward with some excellent balls into the
area.
But with new-look strike partners Steve Jones and Andy Hunt still finding
their feet, the chances were not taken.
And Booth's 13th minute strike was a dagger through the heart for the South
London side.
Andy Hinchcliffe launched a long cross to the far post where Emerson Thome
headed the ball back to the former Huddersfield man on the penalty spot.
The oft-criticised forward controlled brilliantly before firing his shot past
Sasa Ilic.
Booth's strike was a shot in the arm for the home side and moments later Ilic
had to race out to clear from Niclas Alexandersson after a great ball by Benito
Carbone had split the Charlton defence.
But the Addicks were not finished and Wednesday were grateful to Des Walker in
the 25th minute when he cleared John Robinson's centre with Hunt threatening in
the six-yard area.
Then Thome almost gifted Eddie Newton an equaliser when he lost possession to
the Charlton midfielder just outside the 18-yard line.
Newton moved to the right-hand edge of the area until the Owls' defender raced
back before hauling down the Addicks man.
But Kinsella's free-kick was poor and the opportunity disappeared.
Carbone found his way into the referee's notebook in the 32nd minute for
'disputing' a decision by Dermot Gallagher.
Where the first half had been an exciting affair, the second became the famine
after the feast as both sides appeared to run out of steam.
Hinchcliffe needed to be swift to deny Hunt in the area in the 48th minute but
the Owls were never in serious danger.
And Carbone's brilliantly executed strike finally broke any Charlton
resistance.
Accepting a ball from Hinchcliffe on the left-hand side of the area, Carbone
curled a terrific strike beyond Ilic for his third goal in two games.
And there was no way back for the Addicks in the 77th minute when Rudi struck
a Carbone cross first time from just six yards past Ilic.
With seven minutes remaining Booth thought he added his second of the game but
Mr Gallagher signalled offside as the striker wheeled away - much to Charlton's
relief.
Teams
Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Atherton, Jonk, Walker, Carbone, Booth,
Hinchcliffe, Thome, Rudi (Stefanovic 79),
Alexandersson (Briscoe 59), Sonner.
Subs Not Used: Clarke, Humphreys, Magilton.
Booked: Carbone, Sonner, Stefanovic.
Goals: Booth 13, Carbone 64, Rudi 77.
Charlton: Ilic, Mills, Powell, Redfearn (K. Jones 72), Rufus,
Youds, Newton (Barness 72), Kinsella, Hunt (Mendonca 79),
Robinson, S. Jones.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Royce.
Att: 26,010
Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).
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