Derby held to a draw by Owls

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06 Dec 2015

Derby missed out on the chance to go second in the Championship as they were held to a draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

The home side were generally more enterprising, with Ross Wallace's shot forcing a superb save from Lee Grant.

It was the only effort on target in the opening half and chances remained scarce for either side after the break.

Daniel Pudil hammered a shot wide for the Owls, while Derby's Bradley Johnson rattled the bar with a late free-kick.

The Rams remain in third place, two points behind Middlesbrough, with Wednesday moving above Birmingham City into seventh place, and outside the play-off places on goal difference only.

Hard to beat
Derby have taken 33 points from their last 14 league games, while Wednesday have 26 from the last 13 - both sides only beaten once

Wednesday have not beaten the Rams in any competition since April 2006 and boss Carlos Carvalhal made five changes to the starting line-up against Blackburn last weekend in the hope of finding a winning formula.

The visitors had Lee Grant in goal in place of the injured Scott Carson and he soon proved his worth as he prevented Wallace's powerful half-volley from finding the top corner.

There was plenty of endeavour by Wednesday in the first 45 minutes, but the game lacked the touch of quality that might have been expected from two of the division's form sides.

Derby, having won 10 of their last 13 Championship matches, took until the 67th minute to produce an effort of note, when Johnson's left-foot effort was saved by Keiren Westwood.

Tom Ince was largely ineffective in front of watching father Paul and was taken off just after the hour mark along with Stephen Warnock, who had taken a knock.

It was Johnson, back in the side after suspension, who came closest to a winner when Johnny Russell rolled an indirect free-kick to him inside the box after the Owls were penalised for a backpass, and his shot struck the woodwork.

Wednesday defender Glenn Loovens glanced a corner wide, and Derby sub Darren Bent had the ball in the net late on but it was ruled out for offside, with neither side able to break the deadlock.

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (4)

Sheffield Wednesday

01 Westwood
02 Palmer
04 Hutchinson Booked
05 Loovens
36 Pudil Booked
33 Wallace
20 Lee
21 López Booked
41 Bannan
45 Forestieri Booked
18 Lucas João (Hooper - 76' )

Substitutes

06 Semedo
09 Nuhiu
10 McGugan
14 Hooper
16 Wiggins
24 Sougou
28 Wildsmith

Derby County

01 Grant
02 Christie
06 Keogh
14 Shackell
37 Warnock (Baird - 64' )
18 Butterfield Booked
34 Thorne Booked
15 Johnson
23 Ince (Russell - 63' )
09 Martin
24 Weimann (Bent - 76' )

Substitutes

08 Hendrick
10 Bent
11 Russell
12 Baird
16 Pearce
32 Shotton
35 Mitchell

Ref: Graham Scott

Att: 19,252

Match Stats

Possession 51 49

Shots

10 8

On target

1 2

Corners

5 2

Fouls

13 9

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Derby County 0.

90:00 +3:30 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Derby County 0.

90:00 +2:47

Offside, Derby County. Chris Martin tries a through ball, but Darren Bent is caught offside.

90:00 +1:11 Booking

Booking Fernando Forestieri (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

90:00 +1:08

Foul by Fernando Forestieri (Sheffield Wednesday).

90:00 +1:08

Johnny Russell (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.