Sheffield Wednesday 0 Milton Keynes Dons 0: Bywater saves day for Owls and keeps the pressure on Kirkland

The 31-year-old goalkeeper has been frozen out of the first-team picture by the arrival of former England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland last summer.

After being an integral part of Wednesday’s promotion team last year, Bywater has yet to feature in the Championship, his opportunities limited to cup competitions.

Saturday was his second clean sheet in three outings – his other came in the League Cup shock win against Premier League Fulham – and Bywater rescued Wednesday from being one of the giant-killing victims of third-round weekend.

In a game of few chances, League One Dons sniffed a shock as the game drifted along in an uninspiring deadlock.

The visitors twice went close to a winner, Shaun Williams only denied by a stunning save by Bywater before the same Dons player crashed an effort against the woodwork.

It means Bywater will gain another 90 minutes of action a week tomorrow in the replay in Milton Keynes.

“It was a great save,” grinned Bywater. “I saw it all the way, which was a good job as well.

“We now have the replay, but we know who we will be playing in the next round (QPR or West Brom away) and that sometimes can give you that bit more motivation.

“We know what they are all about; they pass, pass, pass, and we will go there with the same tactics. It’s a similar sized pitch, it’s quiet, not many fans. I remember last year we went there and probably should have won, but only drew.

“The lads are confident. We had some chances, Mamady (Sidibe) has won every header, plus, don’t forget, we have had quite a few games in the last two weeks.”

Bywater is a manager’s dream. Despite having limited opportunities, the former Derby County and West Ham player is happy to play back-up to Kirkland and put his trust in manager Dave Jones’s judgment.

“I am lucky to be at a club that is so big,” said Bywater. “I believe in the manager because I know what he has done before. He’s good to me, he involves me in everything and doesn’t leave me out.

“I don’t feel that I am not involved. It’s different if you go to work every day and you’re not involved, maybe training with the reserves.

“As a goalkeeper, it’s different, I always have to be ready every game. Whether I am playing or not, the night before a game I have got to do it right because this is a specialist position.

“But I enjoy working with Kirky (Kirkland), we support each other. We both know we are good enough to play and it’s up to the manager. I respect the manager’s decision, because I know him, he treats me well and I know I can repay him when he lets me play.”

Bywater repaid Jones with the afore mentioned late save to thwart Williams, although he insists his intense training routines keep him ready for action.

“I train every day with the goalkeeping coach, people don’t see what I do every day. I have only played a few matches, but my match sharpness is still there because I am training every day.

“I didn’t do too bad (against MK Dons) to keep a clean sheet. We should beat them on our own patch, but the FA Cup is different.”

Bywater was one of three changes to the Owls’ line-up; captain Martin Taylor was recalled and striker Chris Maguire was handed a rare start. Kirkland, Anthony Gardner and the suspended Jeremy Helan dropped out.

The Owls should have scored in the fourth minute. Miguel Llera’s free-kick picked out the unmarked Sidibe, but the on-loan striker got under the ball and headed over from eight yards.

Sidibe will also feel he should have done better when he profited from Michail Antonio’s driving run at the heart of the Dons’ defence, only for team-mate 
Kieran Lee to get in his way and the striker’s scuffed effort was easily picked up by goalkeeper David Martin.

Former Reading winger Antonio looked Wednesday’s best chance for creating a goal in a low-key opening. His long throw was headed straight at Martin by Llera, then the winger saw his effort deflected onto the top of the netting.

The second half started in the same manner, with home fans frustrated at the lack of urgency, or quality, from Wednesday.

Sidibe had a great chance to break the deadlock after pinching the ball and finding the Owls three against two. But Sidibe’s pass to Antonio was short and it proved to be the striker’s last involvement as Jones introduced Gary Madine from the bench.

Maguire made way for Jermaine Johnson on 67 minutes as the Wednesday manager looked for a spark, and the Jamaican international made a swift impression, finding space on the left to set up Antonio, but his shot sailed high into the empty Kop.

Former Owls midfielder Darren Potter saw his shot blocked in a rare Dons attack, and Ryan Harley’s long-range effort was deflected wide for a corner.

Potter had to be alert in his own area to head away Llera’s free-kick, and another set piece saw Rhys McCabe’s floated effort just evade a posse of Owls players as Martin scooped up the loose ball.

Heading into the last 10 minutes the visitors sniffed a shock winner.

Owls left-back Joe Mattock threw himself at Harley’s shot before Llera glanced the ball away with Ryan Lowe lurking just behind him.

Bywater thwarted Williams, whose fierce drive was tipped wide, before Wednesday had the woodwork to thank for preventing the Dons from breaking the deadlock.

The ball was played up to Lowe, who neatly laid it into the path of Williams.

The midfielder placed his effort wide of Bywater’s grasp, but the ball struck a post and Lowe was flagged for offside as Wednesday breathed a huge sigh of relief.