Moore’s case for defence
DARREN MOORE was pleased with his Wednesday side’s clean sheet, although neither Charlton nor the Owls could give their fans a goal.
The electric atmosphere of over 17,000 fans between both the home and away stands at the Valley amplified a very tense and scrappy first half, now that spectators are allowed back into stadiums once more.
Moore said: “It’s a clean sheet, and you can work from that... You can build cohesion from there.
“I thought the back five were excellent and resolute, and they showed their quality and experience.”
The biggest event of the opening 45 was an unfortunate head injury for Owls forward Callum Paterson which required lengthy treatment and a stretcher off the pitch. Wednesday, relegated from the Championship last season, made life difficult for their hosts throughout.
But the Addicks made the better chances, with Conor Washington being stopped at close range just before half-time and Albie Morgan putting two big opportunities offtarget from the edge of the penalty area.
Visiting skipper Barry Bannan nearly won it for his side five minutes from time, but after beating two with an impressive solo run he could only push a drive gently past the Charlton upright.
When asked if he was planning on bringing more players in during the transfer window, Moore said: “We’ll see how we go.
“If I feel there’s a player that can make us stronger, and it’s right, then we’ll see if we can do some business.
“If not, we carry on with what we’ve got.”
And the Wednesday boss also had encouraging news regarding Paterson.
“We are really pleased to see him in there, sat up and smiling.
“They don’t give him any sympathy, but he stopped a certain goal there. It was a brave header, but he got taken out. He’ll do the protocol, and hopefully in the next 24/48 hours he won’t suffer anything else.”