The Addicks had gone ahead through Luke Varney's 20th-minute strike and should have gone 2-0 up, but Andy Gray blazed over after Varney had rattled the post.

Instead, it was Wednesday who secured a first away win of the season through goals from Wade Small and Marcus Tudgay before the break.

"There are always moments within games that change them. Certainly, Charlton went at us early, hit the post twice and we rode our luck," said Owls manager Brian Laws.

"But credit to my players, they dug in deep after taking the lead and that will give them a real confidence-boost leading to their next home game."

Wednesday's performance was a vast improvement on their last away game, a 6-0 drubbing at Reading.

Two goals in three first-half minutes from Small and Tudgay stunned Charlton.

The hosts were 1-0 up and seemingly cruising after Varney's strike midway through the opening half, and both Varney and Linvoy Primus struck the woodwork.

But Small found the net in the 38th minute with a superb solo effort from Wednesday's first real attack of the game, and they took the lead when Tudgay pounced on some dozy home defending to fire home four minutes from the interval.

On-loan Portsmouth centre-half Primus, making a second debut at the club where he started his career, met Nicky Bailey's corner with a firm header which cannoned back off Lee Grant's post after just seven minutes. Alan Pardew's promotion hopefuls went ahead in the 20th minute after Jermaine Johnson fouled former Owls winger Lloyd Sam.

Bailey floated in the free-kick, Wednesday's defenders could not clear and when the ball dropped to Varney eight yards out the striker made no mistake.

Wednesday were not at the races in the opening stages and they had a huge let-off when Varney crashed a volley against the post with Grant beaten and strike-partner Gray hit his follow-up over.

Small dragged the visitors level in fine style when he ran from the halfway line into the home penalty area before drilling the ball past Nicky Weaver.

Tudgay turned the game on its head three minutes later as the Charlton defence dithered.

After the break, the impressive Steve Watson forced a save
from Weaver and the Owls
also had a penalty claim waved away when Bailey appeared to handle.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser and Grant saved well from Sam and Hameur Bouazza shot over the bar and struck another chance into the side-netting.

Varney thought he had found the leveller 15 minutes from time when he prodded a loose ball goalwards but Tony McMahon cleared on the line.

Charlton Athletic: Weaver, Cranie (Basey 78), Hudson, Primus (Ambrose 68), Youga, Sam, Holland, Bailey, Bouazza, Varney, Gray (Todorov 68). Unused substitutes: Elliot, Semedo.

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, McMahon, Spurr, Wood, Gilbert, Small (Esajas 63), McAllister, Watson (Smith 69), O'Connor, Johnson (Burton 55), Tudgay. Unused substitutes: Jeffers, Clarke.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Man of the match: Steve Watson.