Charlton Athletic 1 Sheffield Wednesday 2: Lita’s dramatic debut as Owls pull clear of drop zone

Substitute Lita, who had joined Wednesday on loan from Swansea just 24 hours earlier, hit a dramatic last-minute winner.

The former Valley loanee swept home Jermaine Johnson’s cross from six yards out as Wednesday came from a goal down to grab an unlikely victory.

“It’s nice to have a striker on the pitch who can get that scruffy goal,” said Jones, whose side are six points clear of the drop zone.

“He’s done that all his career – and he’s scored some good ones as well.

“We defend well, but scoring has been a problem. Hopefully, one or two will learn by watching him and that’s a good education.

“He’s been a good player wherever he’s been and the one thing he’s done is score goals. He knows where the back of the net is.”

Charlton appeared to be heading for their fourth straight Championship win when Johnnie Jackson fired them ahead just after the interval.

The Valley captain was teed up by Bradley Pritchard and prodded in his seventh goal of the season.

Scott Wagstaff then hit a post with an angled drive and a second goal would surely have sealed Charlton’s victory.

Instead, Reda Johnson atoned for a horrorific miss in the first half – when he somehow scooped the ball wide from eight yards after Addicks goalkeeper Ben Hamer spilled a high ball – by heading in a deep cross from Lewis Buxton with six minutes left.

Wednesday, who could have taken an early lead when Anthony Gardner met debutant Danny Pugh’s corner, only for his header to be kept out by a combination of team-mate Michail Antonio’s backside and Hamer, could have been forgiven for settling for a point.

Lita had other ideas and five minutes later he stunned the hosts with his first goal since 
October.

Charlton missed the chance to climb to within five points of the play-off spots as their perfect start to 2013 came grinding to a halt.

“That’s football; sometimes you love the game and sometimes you hate it,” said shell-shocked manager Chris Powell.

“It’s one of those days that hasn’t gone for us. The turning point was when we hit the post, that would have sealed the deal for us.

“We got stronger and better as the game went on and went ahead through a good goal, but then couldn’t see the game out. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.”

Charlton Athletic: Hamer, Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Evina (Green 90), Wilson (Fuller 90), Pritchard, Stephens (Wright-Phillips 90), Jackson, Wagstaff, Kermorgant. Unused substitutes: Button, Cort, Harriott, Dervite.

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, Llera, R Johnson, Lee (Lita 54), Prutton, Coke, Pugh (Madine 67), Antonio, J Johnson (Semedo 90). Unused substitutes: Bywater, Taylor, Mattock, McCabe.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Man of the match: Leroy Lita.