Owls hold on in dour derby to stop the Blades going second
United's late surge failed to supply the winner needed to leapfrog Leeds in the Championship
BITTER Sheffield rivals Wednesday and United played out a third consecutive goalless draw in the Steel City derby.
It is now 293 minutes since either of these sides scored against each other — and this was no classic.
Both teams had one gilt-edged chance but Owls keeper Keiren Westwood and Blades opposite number Dean Henderson were equal to them.
United’s Gary Madine — returning to his former club — saw a first-half header superbly saved by Westwood.
While Wednesday defender Sam Hutchinson shot straight at the Blades No 1.
So the big winners last night were leaders Norwich and second-placed Leeds as the race for Premier League football hots up. The Canaries are four points in front of third-placed Blades while Leeds enjoy a two-point cushion.
Victory for Wednesday would have put them just four points behind the play-offs — instead they have only managed to cut the gap to six.
Madine almost put United in front after seven minutes when he got on the end of a great Oliver Norwood cross with a powerful header — but Westwood made a point-blank save.
But Wednesday had half a chance to level a few minutes later when Adam Reach kept the ball in, cutting it back to Steven Fletcher, whose header was deflected for a corner.
The Blades responded with two corners of their own and Madine was brought down by Michael Hector. Ref Peter Bankes was not interested.
Barry Bannan’s hanging corner caused a few problems in the Blades box before they cleared and then Reach made a complete pig’s ear of an opening shortly after.
The Owls were well drilled — doing a good job at blocking most available avenues open to the Blades.
That is one thing that has improved under boss Steve Bruce and his assistant Steve Agnew, knowing when to press and when not to.
It was not pretty to watch but effective.
By the same token Chris Wilder has instilled an immense work ethic in his United side.
Owls’ Rolando Aarons saw a shot charged down following a Bannan free-kick.
Wednesday’s dangerman Fletcher sent an overhead kick over the bar and into the stands after a cross from George Boyd.
While, down the other end, Norwood fired a shot across goal as the Blades went close.
Aarons created an opportunity for himself, dancing past a couple of defenders on the left side of the box before his drilled shot was palmed out by Henderson.
And it was almost an Owls howler when skipper Tom Lees headed a deep ball back to Westwood. Billy Sharp read it and was inches away from connecting.
David McGoldrick was brought on for Madine on 68 minutes as the Blades went in search for a winner.
And he saw a fine cross from the left byline cleared just a yard out by Hector.
Aarons fired a shot from 25 yards over the bar and that was that.
