Sheffield Wednesday vs Stoke City. Sky Bet Championship.
Hillsborough.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City at Hillsborough as Tony Pulis' first game at home in charge of the Owls ended in a goalless draw on Saturday.
Saturday 28 November 2020 18:32, UK
Tony Pulis marked his first home game as Sheffield Wednesday manager with a point in a 0-0 draw against his old club Stoke.
There were few chances at either end throughout the 90 minutes with a draw a fair result on the balance of play.
Joe Wildsmith replaced the injured Keiren Westwood in the Wednesday goal with Kadeem Harris returning after suspension and Liam Shaw also handed a recall.
The Stoke line-up showed four changes with Harry Souttar in self-isolation, Steven Fletcher out injured and Josh Symon and Tommy Smith dropping down to the bench.
James McClean returned from self-isolation and there were also places for Lee Gregory, Nathan Collins and James Chester.
After a quiet opening 15 minutes, Harris had the first opportunity, sending a low drive just inches wide of Joe Bursik's left-hand post.
Stoke boss Michael O'Neill was forced to make a change in the 26th minute when Gregory limped off after receiving treatment. He was replaced in attack by Sam Vokes.
Stoke midfielder John Obi Mikel came to his side's rescue, clearing off the line to keep out a firm drive from Harris.
Pulis made a change for the start of the second half, sending on Jordan Rhodes in place of Shaw.
Stoke made a strong start to the second period with Tyrese Campbell putting a shot on target which was saved by Wildsmith.
Vokes' header from the resulting corner was tipped over by the keeper.
Vokes also met a cross from Collins, but was unable to direct his header on target.
As Rhodes threatened to break through the centre, Danny Batth did well to get across and clear the danger.
Barry Bannan and Massimo Luongo combined to carve out an opening for the hosts, but Adam Reach saw his curling effort go wide.
A change for the visitors midway through the half saw Jordan Cousins take over from Mikel.
O'Neill made another substitution a few minutes later with McClean replaced by Jacob Brown.
There were two substitutions for the home side in the space of a couple of minutes with Moses Odubajo and Izzy Brown coming on for Harris and Rhodes.
Vokes went close to scoring a stoppage-time winner, firing on target from 12 yards out, but Wildsmith was equal to it, making a vital stop to ensure the game finished all-square.
Sheffield Wednesday's Tony Pulis: "I've been in charge for three games and the players' attitude to having a go has been absolutely first-class. Today we were solid against a very, very good side who've got a great depth of quality right through the team. We're short in areas that we need to address. The more you stay in the game, the more you understand that you need leg beaters, good quality off set-plays and people who want to score from set-plays. You also need goals and people who can sniff that goal out for you.
"We need to get through to the window and fingers crossed then, if we possibly can, get some more quality in. To win games of football, you've got to have it at both ends. You can't just have it at one end. You can't fault the players for their effort. It's going to be a tough gig, this one. I could go into loads of things about what players were doing or weren't doing, but that's for me and the players."
Stoke's Michael O'Neill: "It was a tough game and we knew it would be a tough game, coming here. Sheffield Wednesday, under Tony, will be difficult to beat, but I thought we had a lot of control in the game. The important thing was to not lose the game so we'll take the point. There wasn't a lot in the game. We had a chance at the end, but I didn't think we looked like conceding.
"It was one of those games when we just couldn't find that little bit of quality to win the game. We played against a team who obviously had a difficult start to the season, having to deal with a points deduction and a new manager coming in. This will not be an easy place to come and win games so overall, if we can't win the game, we make sure we take something from it. I think the players we brought in during the summer have made us better and we've got a good group of lads who are determined to progress with the club."
