Sheffield United 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday: Winners and losers as Dawson saves penalty

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A resilient Sheffield Wednesday held high-flying city rivals Sheffield United to a goalless draw at Bramall Lane on Friday evening.

Having lost four consecutive league matches going into this match, Owls boss Jos Luhukay was under increasing pressure ahead of the first Sheffield derby of the season. However, his side produced an impressive defensive performance to shut out a Blades side that have earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the Championship.

The Blades had a golden chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Mark Duffy was brought down in the first half, but David McGoldrick failed to convert, with Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson pushing his effort round the post.

From then on, the away side became more and more determined to keep a clean sheet and managed to see the game out.

The draw means that Chris Wilder’s side failed to regain top spot in the Championship and are now level on points with Leeds and Norwich City, who both play on Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday stay in 17th, but this was hopefully a turning point for the Owls as we approach the busy festive period.

Winner: Cameron Dawson

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson was the hero for the away side on Friday. Despite making the most saves in the league this season, he had not kept a clean sheet in any of the 16 league matches he had played before this one, with his manager Jos Luhukay forced to back his corner in his pre-match press conference earlier this week.

A section of Wednesday supporters were even chanting the name of Keiren Westwood during their humiliating 4-0 loss to Norwich City last weekend, something that would have been difficult to take for Dawson, a lifelong Owls fan and a graduate from their academy.

For this reason, his penalty save from David McGoldrick in the first half could easily go down as one of the biggest moments of his career so far.

Dawson grew in confidence as the match went on and could be heard barking orders to his teammates late in the second half. A big night for the 23-year-old.

Loser: Sheffield United

United played well on the night but ultimately this was a missed opportunity. The Blades had the chance to go back to the top of the league with a victory, but the draw means that Leeds stay top on goal difference, with the in form Norwich also level on points with both sides.

Leeds face a tough away tie at West Brom this weekend, whilst Norwich will host Millwall. As it stands, there are just five points separating first and eighth place, meaning there is little room for slip ups in the race for promotion.

Chris Wilder was happy with his side’s performance after a poor showing in their 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend, but it’s the points that matter, especially in the Championship.

Winner: Jos Luhukay

The Sheffield Wednesday boss was under a lot pressure heading into this fixture, with his side losing their last four matches heading into Friday night’s derby.

However, after making four changes, Luhukay got his tactics spot on, with his side putting in a much improved defensive performance and keeping out a Blades side that have proved themselves to be one of the most dangerous offensive sides in the league.

A first clean sheet of the season against one of the favourites for promotion will massively help his chances of keeping his job. A big step in the right direction.

Winner: Oliver Norwood

The above stat says a lot about the Owls’ intentions at Bramall Lane, but Norwood also deserves a lot of credit for his performance. Blades midfielder Norwood is on loan from Fulham this season and, when he plays like this, you wonder why he’s not in Slavisa Jokanovic’s Premier League squad this season.

The Northern Ireland midfielder played his role to perfection on Friday. With centre-back’s Basham and O’Connell often tasked with pushing out from defence and joining in with attacks, Norwood plays a very important role in Wilder’s team as United’s deepest-lying midfielder.

The 27-year-old also pulled off one of the passes of the Championship season so far in the first half when he picked out Kieron Freeman with an incredible cross-field pass with the outside of his foot.

Loser: David McGoldrick

Having scored his last three penalties, McGoldrick was the man tasked with putting away the penalty that the Blades were awarded in the first half, but he failed to deliver on this occasion.

United dominated most of the match but the disappointment was clear after McGoldrick saw his spot kick saved. Had that gone in, this could have been a very different game.

His strike partner Billy Sharp didn’t seem all too happy that he wasn’t allowed to take the penalty when speaking in his post-match interview.

Loser: Atdhe Nuhiu

Luhukay made four changes on the night, with striker Nuhiu, who has made 14 league appearances this season, starting his last three, one of the players to be dropped. Left-back Daniel Pudil, Spurs loanee Josh Onomah and right-back Liam Palmer were the others relegated to the bench.

Steven Fletcher and Adam Reach were the two men tasked with leading the line for the Owls, with the Wednesday manager clearly attempting to match-up the home side with his choice of formation.

Both players did very well leading the line and contributed well defensively, something that was key with the Blades’ centre-back’s constantly stepping forward. It’s hard to see past Luhukay going with the same pair for Wednesday’s next league tie against Derby County, a match that will almost certainly require a similar amount of defensive organisation.

The post Sheffield United 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday: Winners and losers as Dawson saves penalty appeared first on Squawka News.



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