Huddersfield Town 0 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Owls left to bemoan their luck after derby stalemate with Town

Whoever said that the Owls might learn valuable lessons from their 7-0 League Cup hiding at Manchester City in September could not have been more mistaken as Stuart Gray’s side have since gone 10 Championship games without a victory.

Town, of course, departed with manager Mark Robins after the opening day and though caretaker Mark Lillis steadied the ship, new manager Chris Powell has had to play catch-up in terms of getting the team to play as he wants and in getting to know his players’ strengths and weaknesses.

Thirteen games have brought four wins, five draws and four defeats as Powell gives every member of his squad a chance to impress rather than by making selection by reputation.

Both camps would argue they should have taken three points at the John Smith’s Stadium, but the derby did not come to life until 
after the break.

There had been one good opportunity in that first period when Jacob Butterfield pierced the Owls’ defence allowing right-back Tommy Smith to race on and square for Sean Scannell. He was set to tap home only for Tom Lees to slide in with a great challenge. The predatory Nahki Wells, consigned to the bench, would surely have converted that one.

The Bermuda international’s second-half introduction certainly opened up the game as Town switched formation from 4-1-4-1 and he immediately forced a fine save from Keiren Westwood before blasting his second opportunity straight at the goalkeeper.

Right-flank player Scannell also blazed over when he finally got the better of Jeremy Helan, wasting the chance to crown his new two-year contract.

But the Owls also had their moments to break the deadlock, particularly when Stevie May smashed a second-half shot against the bar and saw the ball bounce away off the far post.

The Owls’ strength at corners also caused scrambles inside Town’s six-yard box and Royston Drenthe could have been their hero.

He first took advantage of a mix-up in Town’s defence but stayed on his feet as he was clattered by the onrushing Joe Murphy when a penalty could have been the reward had he gone down.

Then the returning Drenthe saw a curling stoppage-time shot pushed away by Murphy at full stretch soon after Chris Maguire was booked for diving as he went down theatrically, but was still caught by Joel Lynch’s sliding challenge in the area.

Honours ended even and both coaches will have been satisfied with the debuts of two of their loanees, West Ham teenager Diego Poyett, sitting in front of Town’s defence, and Watford’s Lewis McGugan in central midfield for the Owls.

Goalkeeper Murphy, in for his Town Championship bow for back injury victim Alex Smithies, admitted: “When the boy Drenthe went between Dixon and Lynchy, I actually took him out. It was probably a penalty, but he stayed on his feet and I have now to go for an X-ray on my shoulder as I can’t feel my fingers.”

Dubliner Murphy, 33, was also clattered three times by May, but was philosophical about the collisions.

“I’ve never had a game like that before in my life – the same lad as well, but I don’t really mind that when you are coming out of your box. Perhaps he could have slowed down a bit.

“I would have kicked up more if I thought his challenges were deliberate, but it’s just football.”

The former Coventry No 1 is hoping he has done enough to retain his place, adding: “It was an eventful first League start for me and as a goalkeeper it is tough being on the sidelines so to get a clean sheet is really nice.

“I suppose I have given the manager something to think about. Everybody wants to play and I’m no different. You don’t come to train, you come to play.

“Alex is a great lad and technically he is the best goalkeeper I have worked with. I rate him highly, but I want to play.”

Murphy’s clean sheet means the Owls’ goal drought continues but captain Glenn Loovens was heartened by their performance.

“We had it cleared off the line, we hit the bar, hit the post, should have had a penalty so it wasn’t like we didn’t create the opportunities to score. We should have put one or two of them away, but that’s football. The boys never gave up and that’s one big plus we can take out of the game

“If I knew what it was then I could do something to change it, but our luck has to turn some day – we can’t carry on being unlucky all the time. Everyone is working hard and putting a shift in.

“We just need to keep plugging away. I’m sure our luck will change and that win will come.

“During the game you don’t think about the fact we’ve only scored four in 11 games – you just concentrate on doing your job. It’s the same for the strikers – they don’t miss on purpose, we’re just lacking that bit of luck.”