REPORT: Hull City 0-0 Owls
Ten-man Sheffield Wednesday picked up a well-earned point at Sky Bet Championship leaders Hull City this evening after a 0-0 draw at the KC Stadium.
There were no goals but plenty of incident and chances, complete with late drama as Fernando Forestieri was sent off after his earlier yellow became red - the second dismissal in as many games for the 26-year-old.
Carlos Carvalhal made five changes to the side that drew 1-1 with QPR on Tuesday night.
Captain Tom Lees was the only member of the back four to start both games, lining up alongside Liam Palmer, Michael Turner and Joe Bennett.
Midfielder Sam Hutchinson also lined up at The KC Stadium, while Forestieri was back in the starting XI after serving his one-match ban in midweek.
As expected the first half was a very tight affair with neither side allowing their opponent much of a sight on goal.
The Owls registered the first chance of the match when a free-flowing passing move saw the ball fall invitingly into Barry Bannan’s path.
The Scot drilled low and hard across the face of goal, and if not for a fine reaction save from Allan McGregor, it could have been 1-0 as Curtis Davies inadvertently turned the ball goalwards.
At the other end, Keiren Westwood was called into action when winger Robert Snodgrass found space in the box to turn and shoot but the Irishman produced a good stop to save from close range.
The pendulum once again swung Wednesday’s way when Forestieri forced McGregor into another superb save, after his fizzing free kick required a glove to tip just over the bar.
From the resulting corner ex-Tigers defender Turner came close to notching against his former club but narrowly nodded over from the edge of the six yard box.
The traffic was beginning to come one way and it was looking increasingly like the Owls could break the deadlock.
Wednesday fans have been treated some sensational goals so far this season and Forestieri almost obliged with another when he lashed against the crossbar with a superb strike from 25 yards.
Despite the Owls dominating towards the half time interval, Hull came back after the break rejuvenated and had two good chances inside five second half minutes.
Sam Clucas was fortunate to see the ball deflect into his path before shooting into the side netting after being closed down by Westwood.
And Uruguayan international Abel Hernandez tried his luck from the edge of the area after poking the ball goalwards, but Westwood managed to hold on at the second attempt after originally parrying it into the air.
The hosts were getting closer; this time it was Clucas who tried his luck from the edge of the area, but saw his low effort rebound off the inside of the post before Turner cleared the ball to safety.
Hull continued to test the Owls' back line when Jake Livermore cannoned his effort off the upright, before Westwood was called into action when he smartly smothered Hernandez’ close range attempt.
Despite the Tigers’ pressure Wednesday were good value for a point, but were reduced to ten men in stoppage time after Forestieri was sent off, picking up a second yellow card.
Forestieri went down under a challenge from Michael Dawson and was controversially issued a second yellow card for simulation.
Nevertheless the Owls held on for a deserved point in front of the Sky Sports cameras, with the defence maintaining their solidity with a merited clean sheet at the league leaders.
Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Turner, Hutchinson, Bennett, Hooper (Nuhiu, 83), Lees, Lee, McGeady (Wallace, 64), Bannan, Forestieri