Sheffield Wednesday 0 Charlton Athletic 1: Powell and Megson at odds after Owls are defeated

Tempers flared in the second half of the League One encounter when Owls midfielder Jose Semedo fouled Charlton’s Bradley Pritchard.

Referee Neil Swarbrick issued a yellow card but was surrounded by Charlton players calling for Semedo to be dismissed for a professional foul.

Powell accused Megson of swearing at former Owls defender Michael Morrison and hinted at a lack of ‘class’.

“I know tempers and emotions get high and I’m quite a calm and composed man but I don’t like people swearing at my players or swearing at me,” he said.

“I don’t think it is called for, swearing at a player who used to be here. If he wants him, he should have kept him.

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

“I let myself down only because of what I heard but in the main I conduct myself correctly,” he insisted.

“When there is an atmosphere and tensions are tight that is when you should have a touch of class about yourself. But it’s gone. The game is done. One nil to us. Three points. We go home.”

Megson, however, accused Charlton of unsporting tactics, saying: “People jumping up off the bench waving imaginary cards is always going to get up my hooter and my staff’s hooters. I won’t have it and I’m not a shrinking violet who won’t say anything about it.

“We did and that’s why you saw a bit of an altercation down there. It will get spicy when people are shouting for your players to get sent off.”

Megson was also angered by Charlton’s delaying tactics during the game and at the interval.

“When the referee presses the buzzer for us to go out, we are all supposed to go out – not have one team stand out in the tunnel for four minutes waiting for the opposition. And it was all done on purpose.

“Their goalkeeper was ‘gardening’ for a lot of the game too, rushing out and trying to get some of our players in trouble.

“He took 45 seconds at one stage to take a goalkick – again done on purpose. People can criticise Wednesday but they will always get myself who is going to back them up.”

Megson, however, could have few complaints about his side’s defeat as their performance was way below recent standards.

Gary Madine made a shock return after nearly two months on the sidelines with a broken toe but was out of sorts.

So, too, was winger Ben Marshall, in his final appearance on loan from Stoke, and midfielder Semedo, against his former club.

They were not the only ones and Owls supporters will hope this is just a blip rather than the start of a bad run.

The Owls applied the majority of the early pressure and delivered a number of aerial balls into the area.

Chris Lines forced a save from Ben Hamer after good work by Chris O’Grady but it was the only clear cut opportunity they created prior to Charlton taking the lead.

There had been little to trouble the Owls until Reda Johnson made a clumsy challenge on Pritchard.

Referee Swarbrick awarded a free-kick and winger Jonnie Jackson curled the ball home from 25 yards.

Winger Mike Jones worked hard down the right but Charlton’s rearguard always looked solid.

And although Madine tucked the ball home in first-half stoppage time, the flag had long been raised for offside.

It took an impressive save by Nicky Weaver to prevent Bradley Wright-Phillips doubling Charlton’s lead at the start of the second half.

Owls captain Rob Jones failed to match the striker for pace but resisted the temptation to trip him in the area. Weaver dashed off his line and blocked one-handed before gathering.

Megson made a double substitution with just over 20 minutes to play, replacing Madine and Mike Jones with Ryan Lowe and Miguel Llera.

Lowe was a straight swap in attack for Madine but Llera joined the action as a third centre-back and the Owls switched to a 3-5-2 formation.

Marshall was next to come off, showing his appreciation to the Owls supporters in what was a likely farewell.

With the stakes high, tempers inevitably began to strain.

Semedo’s bodycheck on Pritchard was blatant and may have prevented a goalscoring opportunity but the offence was committed 20 yards inside the Charlton half.

Substitute Clinton Morrison had a header blocked on the line in stoppage time as the Owls threw everyone forward in search of an equaliser.

But Weaver also had to make a good save at the finish to deny Darel Russell.

Afterwards, Charlton match winner Jackson said: “It was intense and a big game on both sides and we were aware of that.

“It got a bit niggly but I don’t think there was anything dirty or malicious. It was just two competitive teams going at it.”