REPORT: Wednesday 0-0 MK Dons
Ten-man Sheffield Wednesday were held to a 0-0 draw at home to MK Dons on Tuesday night.
Wednesday were unlucky not to find the net during the 90 minutes after hitting the woodwork four times during the match, courtesy of Atdhe Nuhiu, Barry Bannan, and one in either half by defender Daniel Pudil.
And to cap a frustrating night, winger Ross Wallace was sent off with ten minutes remaining after an off the ball incident as the Owls had to settle for a point.
Carlos Carvalhal made just one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Ipswich on Saturday, as Gary Hooper was recalled to the starting XI in place of Lucas Joao.
It was a tame first half at Hillsborough but Wednesday had the better of the chances without making the breakthrough.
The Owls’ first sight on goal came on 16 minutes when Wallace’s cross fell to the feet of Pudil, but the Czech full back smashed a low volley just past the post.
MK Dons responded with former Wednesday loanee Jordan Spence forcing Keiren Westwood into a reflex save after shooting from a narrow angle.
Wallace was next to try his luck for the hosts when he cut in from the right before taking aim, but his shot was smartly kept out by Charlie Burns.
Wallace was involved in the thick of every attacking move for the Owls and the wideman met Kieran Lee’s cross with a first time strike which Burns again kept out.
Pudil then found an unmarked Bannan on the edge of the area, but his snapshot fired over the crossbar.
It was just before the break when the Owls came within an inch of taking the lead as Pudil’s looping cross-cum-shot came back off the inside of the post.
The introduction of Nuhiu at half time almost had an instant impactl as just ten minutes into the second half the striker rattled the left-hand post with a header from Wallace’s corner.
Since the restart it had been all Wednesday as they pressed for a goal, with Forestieri’s dazzling footwork inside the area rounded off with a venomous strike deflected narrowly wide.
Pudil then put an inviting low cross which Burns managed to somehow paw away from the on-coming Hooper, with Nuhiu’s follow-up shot deflected behind for a corner off Joe Walsh.
And with the resulting corner, the Owls hit the woodwork for the third time as Pudil’s deep cross beat everyone in the box before cannoning back off the crossbar.
Then with the gamer in the closing stages, Wallace was issued a straight red card after clashing with Jonny Williams.
The dismissal didn’t deter the home side from going for a winner, and courtesy of Bannan’s looping free kick they hit the frame of the goal for the fourth and final time.
The visitors held on for a point to preserve their Championship status for another day, while the Owls are now six points above seventh place Cardiff, who went down at Brentford.