Brentford 0 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Woodwork denies May in Owls stalemate

Sheffield Wednesday's Stevie May was denied by the post at Brentford.

Neither side had the cutting edge to break down two resolute defences in a thrilling end-to-end encounter.

Brentford thought they had broken the deadlock as early as the 10th minute when Andre Gray sidefooted home Jota’s cross only to see the effort ruled out for offside.

But Wednesday hit back in an action-packed opening half, Stevie May hitting the post with a sharp, snapshot volley following Chris Maguire’s 36th-minute free-kick.

Maguire himself had gone close moments earlier but his fierce dipping drive was palmed to safety by Bees goalkeeper David Button.

Jose Semedo almost gifted the Londoners the lead just after the break when he saw his clearance from Alan McCormack’s driven right-wing cross slip just past the upright.

But the game ebbed and flowed as both sides went in search of the goal that would have settled it.

Liam Palmer was in the right place at the right time on 51 minutes as he headed Jonathan Douglas’s near post flicked header off the line.

But after weathering a 15-minute spell of intense Wednesday pressure after the break, Brentford came more into the game and carved out a string of good chances that they were to rue.

Jota blazed over the Bees’ best chance of the game when he had space and time at the far post after good work down the right flank from Gray.

But substitute Nick Proschwitz also squandered two clear-cut chances for the hosts right at the death.

Wednesday substitute Royston Drenthe stung Button’s fingertips with a free-kick with almost the last kick as the game headed towards a draw.

Owls defender Joe Mattock picked up his fifth booking.

Brentford: Button, McCormack, Craig, Dean, Bidwell, Douglas, Odubajo, Pritchard, Judge (Diagouraga 77), Jota (Proschwitz 76), Gray (Toral 84). Unused substitutes: Bonham, Betinho, Yennaris, Moore.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Mattock, Maguire, Semedo, Lee (Madine 73), Helan, Nuhiu, May (Drenthe 84). Unused substitutes: Coke, Maghoma, Hope, Dielna, Kirkland.

Referee: O Langford (W Midlands).