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Steve Bruce remains unbeaten as Sheffield Wednesday hold Millwall to goalless draw

Millwall 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday: In a game mostly bereft of action and atmosphere the Lions seemed more in control, but another draw leaves the threat of relegation still looming five points below

Matt Murphy
The Den
Tuesday 12 February 2019 22:45 GMT
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Steve Bruce directs from the touchline
Steve Bruce directs from the touchline

Three games into his tenure at Sheffield Wednesday, Steve Bruce is yet to concede a goal. But, to be frank, he couldn’t have been handed a much easier start. Wednesday have faced toothless relegation-grappling opposition in Ipswich, Reading, and now Millwall – and they've scored just once themselves. Not much of a barometer to judge the veteran manager in his latest endeavour.

Maybe it was the combination of the mid-week with the mid-season lull, or even the distraction of the Champions League keeping the fans away, but local reporters were claiming they’d never heard the Den this quiet before. That fiercely intimidating, almost riotous atmosphere that Millwall are famous for, which guided them to an FA Cup routing of Everton 17 days ago, had been reduced from a roar to more of a dwindling meow. There was hardly a clap or boo to be heard at half time as the players traipsed down the tunnel; put down to disinterest than anything else.

The football was mostly a mirror image of that void. The fact one of the game’s bigger talking points was the colour clash of kits – both were donning blue and white – said a lot about the quality. The little action on offer was reserved for the second half, and desire was scarce.

Millwall were asking most of the questions. After a Ben Marshall header was turned over, and Jed Wallace’s free-kick parried away, there seemed more fluidity to the Lions' play going forward, as they grew into the game. Neil Harris' side still haven’t scored a goal from open play since early December, but their biggest threat was on the counter, through Wallace and Ryan Leonard. Chelsea loanee Michael Hector was often on hand to cut off the supply, and steer possession around in Wednesday’s favour. The 26-year-old was definitely the away side’s stand-out player.

Harris had tinkered uncharacterisically with his Millwall line-up, in an attempt to grab their first league win since New Year’s Day. Aiden O’Brien was handed a chance up front, but the striker’s preformance, with only two chances in the second half, failed to dazzle.

There was a bit more life in visitors after the break. Lucas Joao’s thundering effort from just inside the box would’ve gone in had it been anywhere but at the keeper’s chest, Jordan Archer quick to palm it into the ground. Though Millwall seemed more likely to take the lead throughout, a raft of misplaced passes at the back allowed some hope of a chance to pounce and nick the lead. Steven Fletcher almost did just that in the dying seconds, firing over from close range.

Millwall’s Jake Cooper in action with Sheffield Wednesday’s Michael Hector

Wallace’s slick touch to control and cross from the right flank offered a glimpse of what the home crowd were looking for – O’Brien’s resulting header at the near post should’ve been the opener. There was suddenly a bit more energy around the ground as the temperature of the game rose slightly towards the end.

The addition of some experience up front in the form of Steve Morison gave the hosts some fire power going forward in the latter stages. Though Morison buried his first effort into the crowd, the striker’s header across goal was nearly turned in by Marshall in the last 10 minutes, but was cleared hastily off the line. That chance paired with sustitute Fred Onyedinma's failed stepover as he waded into the box moments later summed up a hapless evening for Millwall.

Heading into the final third of the season, Harris will be keeping with the Lions’ repeated aim of hitting the comfortable 50-point mark, which should guarantee them safety. But the relegation zone is still looming five points below. Though they're better known for finding strength in the business end of their campaign, they'll need to start digging deeper to find that rhythm again.

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