REPORT: Brighton 0-0 Wednesday
Wednesday posted a hard-fought point against fellow promotion hopefuls Brighton on Tuesday night.
The goalless draw might have gone either way, with the hosts edging the first half and the visitors the second.
But both goalkeepers remained untroubled for the lion’s share of the evening as torrential rain in Sussex impacted the on the contest as a spectacle, with a raft of strong challenges taking precedence over any free-flowing football.
Indeed, the opening period saw only two shots on goal, and from the same player, as Brighton’s Jamie Murphy went close.
First, in the early throes, the midfielder unleashed a blistering drive from distance that fizzed over the crossbar via a key deflection off Tom Lees.
Then five minutes before half time, Murphy reacted on the edge of the box to a headed clearance only to see his fierce drive whistle past the post.
Wednesday came out for the second half with the bit between their teeth, evidenced by a Barry Bannan hit from 25 yards that forced David Stockdale into a flying save.
The Scot was then instrumental driving the Owls forward and a last-ditch challenge from Lewis Dunk prevented Bannan’s shot on the angle causing damage.
For their part, Brighton struggled to make a dent in the Wednesday defence and the Seagulls introduced Bobby Zamora and Kazenga Lua-Lua just before the midway point of the second half.
But it was Wednesday that looked the more likely as the Championship clash neared its climax, with Bannan again at the heart, this time bringing another fine save from Stockdale after chancing his arm from distance.
And the Owls certainly finished the stronger as Brighton struggled to make a real impression in the final third, with a goal the only thing missing from an enterprising performance at one of the feared home sides in the division.
Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Loovens, Lees, Bennett, Hutchinson, Bannan, Lee, Matias (Wallace 83), Hooper, Joao (Nuhiu 65)