Swansea fail to down Owls

Pratley: Had chance to win it

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Sheffield Wednesday climbed out of the relegation zone on goal difference after a hard-fought goalless draw with promotion chasing Swansea.

Paulo Sousa's side made the brighter start and pressured in the early stages, but the Owls gradually came into the game and could have snatched victory themselves.

A stretched game led to an open final half-hour, with Swansea's Darren Pratley and Wedneaday's Leon Clarke both having opportunities to secure the three points.

Swansea started the game on the front foot with a prolonged period of possession and winger David Cotterill fired in a 25-yard drive in the third minute which Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant managed to scramble away.

In the 18th minute, Craig Beattie rose above the Wednesday defence to meet Thomas Butler's cross but was unable to direct his header goalwards.

Patient

Swansea struggled to create any clear-cut chances despite their patient build-up play and in the 28th minute Wednesday were almost in front.

Leon Clarke hooked the ball along the edge of the 18-yard box and Jermaine Johnson rifled in a volley that was deflected onto the roof of Dorus de Vries' net.

Swansea failed to re-establish their rhythm before the interval and Johnson's mazy runs were proving to be a constant problem.

Beattie was replaced by former Owl Shefki Kuqi at half-time and the big Finn almost had an immediate impact when he smashed a volley narrowly wide from 18 yards.

Johnson continued to cause the Swans problems as he spun full-back Angel Rangel with ease but Clarke could not latch onto his cut back.

Pratley then spearheaded a Swansea counter attack which resulted in Grant saving at the feet of substitute Cedric van der Gun.

End-to-end

The end-to-end nature of the contest continued and when Wednesday's Luke Varney engineered some space to flash the ball across Swansea's goal, Clarke was inches away from breaking the deadlock.

Just after the hour mark, Swansea had the best chance of the game when Van der Gun whipped in a peach of a cross which Pratley headed over from six yards.

Tommy Miller's venomous strike from inside the area looked bound for the Swansea net in the 70th minute, but it was blocked by Ashley Williams.

Substitute Lee Trundle could have won it for the home side with five minutes to go when Mark Gower found him six yards from goal, but he slashed horribly wide.

Swansea were ending the game as they started and Williams headed a Gower cross past the post with the goal at his mercy in the final minute.

Clarke again had the chance to grab three points for Wednesday, but he mis-hit when well placed in the area after Miller got the better of Alan Tate.