Sheffield Wednesday 0 Brighton 0: Owls frustrated again at Hllsborough

Both teams started the game well, trading attack for attack in the opening stages with Joao Teixeira and Leon Best looking lively for the visitors, but it took until the 10th minute for the game’s first real chance to arrive.

After some clever play around the box by the Owls, Kieran Lee found himself with his back to goal and the ball at his feet, but his shot on the turn went a foot wide of David Stockdale’s left-hand post.

Halfway through the first half, it was Wednesday who had had most of the possession but had failed to do much with it, with neither side able to fashion a decent chance despite many a promising build-up.

However, all that changed when Sergiu Bus rose highest in the penalty area and powered a header at Stockdale, causing the goalkeeper to pull out a quick reaction save to keep the scores level.

With just added time remaining in the first half, Wednesday conjured up their best opportunity to pull ahead when Lee floated a ball in to Will Keane, but his header from two yards out crashed against the Brighton goalkeeper and bounced to safety, sending both teams in at half-time goalless.

After registering so few shots on target in the first half, Albion came out with intent and had two in the first minute of the second period.

Teixeira was once again the instigator but his volley was blocked and the follow-up from Best was kicked away to safety by the Owls defence.

Aston Villa loanee Joe Bennett had had a pretty quiet afternoon for the visitors but he got a chance to show his Premier League quality with 65 minutes gone. Taking a shot from a tight angle in the box he hoped to beat Keiren Westwood at his near post but blazed the ball high over the bar.

Wednesday continued to press for a breakthrough goal and one looked certain after substitute Atdhe Nuhiu flicked the ball on to Lee, but his shot came to nothing as it met the leg of Stockdale.

The best chance of the match came from Teixeira as he broke free of the Wednesday defence and pulled the ball across the box to Bennett, who had an empty net to aim for but a well-timed block from Kamil Zayatte prevented what would have been a certain goal.

Wednesday fans twice thought they had stolen the points from under the noses of the visitors in the closing minutes. Both times it was Nuhiu who twisted and turned inside the Albion box to fashion two identical chances for himself, but he blazed both of them over the bar in exactly the same way when he looked certain to score.