Sheffield Wednesday brought to an end a dismal run of 7 successive away league defeats by picking up a point in a 0-0 draw at high-flying Bournemouth on Tuesday evening. The clean sheet was Wednesday’s first in League One since November and they had conceded 2 or more in each of their previous 7 league matches.
Manager Gary Megson was seemingly unimpressed by his side’s display in the F.A. Cup defeat at Birmingham as he chose to make 6 changes to the starting line-up. Richard Hinds, Mark Beevers and Liam Palmer all impressed in an improved 2nd half display at St Andrews to earn a place from the start, Gary Madine came back in having been cup-tied and Chris Sedgwick was recalled. Tommy Miller made his come back from injury to captain the side as Clinton Morrison dropped to the bench.
Despite fielding a defensive-looking 4-5-1 formation Wednesday started on the front foot and went close to taking the lead when Sedgwick’s blocked shot fell to Osbourne who fired straight at the keeper.
Osbourne saw another effort deflected wide in the first 20 minutes while the Owls restricted Bournemouth to very few chances in the first half with a tame Symes effort that was easily saved by Weaver the best that the hosts had to offer.
Madine saw a header comfortably saved by Jalal in the home goal following good work from Sedgwick and at half-time the Owls would have felt encouraged by their display but somewhat disappointed not to have turned their superiority into goals.
The 2nd half started in much the same fashion as the first and Palmer was denied a first goal for the Owls when Jalal tipped his strike over the bar.
The match looked to have swung in the home side’s favour a little under ten minutes into the half when Symes was sent tumbling by Reda Johnson in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. Symes stepped up to take the penalty but missed the target to hand the Owls a much needed reprieve.
Having been let off at one end Wednesday were denied at the other just after the hour mark when Miller’s crisp shot on target was saved well by Jalal at full stretch.
5 minutes later and it was Bournemouth’s turn to go close. A short corner routine worked space for Cooper to shoot from outside the area and the defender saw his shot come back out off the post.
The home side had made a marked improvement in the second half but the visitors continued to give as good as they got and Sedgwick was denied by another smart save from Jalal with 15 minutes remaining.
Neither side was able to create a clear cut chance to take all the points in the closing stages but the fact that Cherries keeper Jalal was named as the man-of-the-match shows that the Owls may feel slightly disappointed not to have recorded a victory.