JOHNNIE Jackson’s superlative free-kick strengthened Charlton's stronghold on League One as the Addicks handed Sheffield Wednesday their first defeat at Hillsborough this season.

The league leaders’ captain buried his ninth goal of the campaign in the 28th minute after the visitors had weathered some heavy pressure from Gary Megson’s Owls, who have only failed to conquer Brentford and Huddersfield on home soil so far this season.

The tense and scrappy affair was almost levelled in stoppage time when Clinton Morrison was denied the opportunity to pull Charlton back just as he had at The Valley in September by Rhoys Wiggins’ goal-line clearance.

Bradley Wright-Phillips and Darel Russell had opportunities to kill the game off saved by ex-Addick Nicky Weaver, but nonetheless Chris Powell’s side hung on to pull further away from the play-off zone.

Powell was understandably pleased following the result, saying: "I'm very proud of my players today. We dealt with a tough game against good opposition.”

"We stood up to everything that was thrown at us today and the players showed a lot of resilience and character, words you have to use at times.

"We played some good stuff and created some good chances and one piece of quality won the game from my skipper.

"For us to come here and get a clean sheet and come away with three points is fantastic for us."

He continued: "I know Sheffield Wednesday at times can play. They have got some decent players here, but also they are a big side and they do use that to full effect.

"We saw that in the second half when they were just loading the box, but my defenders and my goalkeeper stood tall. They reacted to different situations really, really well.

"Every player played their part. My forwards came back and helped with the long throws into the box.

"It just shows I have got a team of good footballers but players that are ready to do the other side if they have to, and they definitely had to today. I felt they fully earned the points at the end."

On Jackson’s winner, he added: "Set-plays can win you a game if things are tight like they were today.

"It just goes to show that if you put the practice in on the training field as John does as well as Yann [Kermorgant] and Danny Green, you can get your just rewards - and we definitely got that today.

"We started off OK but we grew into the game. It was a big game for a lot of the players but they have earned the right to be in situations like this.

"We've carried on our good away form which is pleasing and we stood up to a tough team who are very tough to play against.

"We could have made the margin wider and Nicky Weaver made some good saves. Also we cleared one off the line at the end in injury time, so that just shows that the concentration from the players from the first second right to the end was first class.

"I applauded each and every one of them because they were fantastic today."

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt

Charlton: Hamer; Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Green (Russell 72), Hollands, Pritchard (Cort 90), Jackson, Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Clarke 76). Subs not used: Sullivan, Stephens. Att: 26,759.