Barry Bannan and Josh Windass react to Shea Charles' cheeky Blades dig - Sheffield Wednesday fans will love this | OneFootball

The ex-Owls loanee was key in Southampton's win against Sheffield United on Tuesday.

Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan and ex-Owls playmaker Josh Windass have been among those reacting to Shea Charles' dig at cross-city rivals Sheffield United after he helped Southampton record a 2-1 success at Bramall Lane earlier in the week.

The Northern Ireland international midfielder spent last season on loan with Wednesday from the Saints after featuring heavily throughout his current employers' promotion-winning campaign through the play-offs two seasons ago.

It had been an extremely lethargic return to the Championship for the South Coast outfit, after last season ended with them becoming, statistically, the second-worst side in the 32-year history of the Premier League after finishing on 12 points, with new boss Will Still already under pressure from sections of the fanbase at St Mary's.

The 32-year-old earned his first job in English football back in May after well-documented successful spells in both France and Belgium at such a young age, yet oversaw a run of six league games without victory prior to the trip to South Yorkshire, which stretched back to the opening day of the season against newly-promoted Wrexham.

However, his side, like they did against the Welsh side, came from behind in the Steel City in dramatic fashion, with a seven-minute Ross Stewart double earning a vital three points against the league's bottom side.

And, post-match, an already seething Blades crowd would have been all the more annoyed to see Charles, and his ex-teammates basking in the glory of Saints' success over Wednesday's bitter rivals.

Barry Bannan and Josh Windass react to Shea Charles, Sheffield United dig after Southampton victory at Bramall Lane

It was very much an encounter which had everything, with United boss Chris Wilder sent off at half-time after launching a ball into the crowd in sheer frustration before, to the bemusement of many, Sydie Peck saw a last-gasp equaliser ruled out for a foul on Alex McCarthy by Tom Cannon.

The Saints midfielder's brother and currently sidelined Owls goalkeeper, Pierce, was among those in the away crowd in S2, already posting a subtle dig at his cross-city foes, before he also took to Instagram to confirm his favouritism to the Hillsborough club in this part of the world.

Enjoyed that one😉," Charles stated. "Great result and incredible support from the travelling fans."

Among those in the comments was his injury-stricken brother, who would otherwise have been keeping net for Henrik Pedersen's side against Birmingham City, as well as Bannan, who responded with three simple clapping emojis, whilst Windass, who is in fine form for his new side Wrexham, responded with "Easy".

Wednesday academy graduate Rio Shipston was also among those amused by the subtle dig at the Bramall Lane side, replied with a well-known 'GIF' of Thierry Henry in hysterics.

Comeback Sheffield United victory could provide a springboard for Southampton

As previously mentioned, Saints have been unable to generate any kind of momentum in the early weeks of the season, which had already led to doubts as to whether Still was the right man for the job in the long haul.

The Saints boss has often tinkered with his lineup in a bid to find some much-needed consistency and rhythm.

That was certainly evident at Bramall Lane, with his side also showing strong character in response to Tyrese Campbell's 28th-minute opener and Adam Armstrong's wayward penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Charles had also endured a mixed start to the campaign in terms of individual performance levels, but has grown in confidence across recent weeks, largely down to scoring his first goal for the club in last week's narrow defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup at Anfield.

If Saints are to now kick on and push up towards the cluster of sides already in the promotion conversation, it would be no surprise if the combative midfielder has a big influence on proceedings.