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Sheffield Wednesday vs Ipswich Town. Sky Bet Championship.

HillsboroughAttendance17,198.

Owls lack bite in stalemate

Image: Laws: Improved performance

Sheff Wednesday and Ipswich played out a goalless draw as neither side possessed the cutting edge.

Wednesday show resolve following midweek hammering

Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich played out a goalless draw at Hillsborough as neither side possessed the cutting edge to find a winner. Wednesday boss Brian Laws was eager to see his side respond to their six-goal hammering at the hands of Reading in midweek and the Owls provided a stubborn display. However, both sides lacked the guile to break the deadlock and Ipswich boss Jim Magilton will be as disappointed as Laws that his men failed to find a winner. Only the crossbar denied Wednesday a half-time lead as Marcus Tudgay's eighth-minute shot thudded back.

Wayward

Tudgay went close again for Wednesday seven minutes later, heading a free-kick from Etienne Esajas just over. Ipswich striker Jonathan Stead, who completed a permanent move this week from Owls rivals Sheffield United, was wayward with his angled drive, while Richard Wright held Steve Watson's stinging drive at the other end. Former Wednesday midfielder Alan Quinn tested home goalkeeper Lee Grant from outside the penalty area and Esajas was off target with another long-range effort, but otherwise clear-cut chances were few and far between in the first period. Jermaine Johnson almost broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the restart with a superb strike from 25 yards, but Wright was equal to it, holding on to a blistering goalbound shot at full stretch.
Impressive
Magilton sent out his players fired up for the second half and shortly after Johnson had threatened, Quinn forced Grant into an equally impressive save against his former club with a shot from inside the area. Quinn fired in another shot from outside the area soon after and Grant was alert to catch a 25-yard effort from Jonathan Walters as the visitors cranked up the pressure. Laws replaced Esajas with Deon Burton after an hour, while Magilton also sent on fresh legs up front, with Stead making way for former Charlton striker Kevin Lisbie. Wade Small was sent on for Johnson with 12 minutes remaining before Sean McAllister flashed a low shot just wide from 25 yards. Neither side built any sustained momentum in a disappointing second half, but Ipswich came close to taking the lead when David Norris fired in a shot from 12 yards, but Grant pulled off another excellent save, pushing the ball on to the crossbar and away to safety.

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