Oxford United and Sheffield Wenesday both extended their unbeaten runs to ten games after a 0-0 draw at Hillsborough this afternoon.
When the dust settles, United will be happy with a point away at the promotion-chasing Owls but also incredibly frustrated to have missed three golden opportunites, plus a last-minute penalty, to win the game.
Two of those chances came in the opening exchanges. With the Big Thaw under way, United could/should have been ahead inside a minute only for Marcus Browne to miss his kick with the goal at his mercy. They could/should have been ahead after 17 minutes as Cameron Brannagan burst into the box and forced keeper Cameron Dawson into a good save, and at that stage they were very much on top.
At the other end, Wednesday had one clever flick from Josh Windass that flashed wide of the post but otherwise United’s defence, with the superb Sam Long back in the side for the ill Elliott Moore, were untroubled in the opening half hour, with Marcus McGuane and Lewis Bate working hard to shield those behind them.
The final 15 minutes of the first half belonged to the Owls though. Former U’s winger Marvin Johnson dragged the home side’s first chance wide after 33 minutes, and former U’s striker Dean’s son Windass saw a shot blocked after two outrageous dummies had opened United up for the first time. Another chance was dragged wide, but United had defended well and will have been pleased with their first-half effort.
There was a worrying sight ten minutes into the second half when Brannagan limped off after a typically brave challenge to create a shooting chance for himself instead left him grounded. However, the excellent Bate fired just wide soon after and the U's continued to give as good as they got.
Wednesday sub Michael Smith was inches away from a superb cross after 72 minutes, throwing himself full length to try and reach it, and there was a typically superb save from Eastwood as Wednesday started to apply late pressure.
However, at the other end there were cameos for Josh Murphy and Yanic Widschut, both of whom will play major roles in the second half of the season, and that almost paid off immediately when Wildschut's first touch was a shot that Dawson saved only for sub James Henry to somehow fire over the empty goal.
Tension rose, and in the last minute of six added on Gatlin O'Donkor rolled his man and was upended. Penalty and Murphy stepped up, only for Dawson to guess right and save to keep those ten game runs going for both clubs.
Frustrating? Very, but ten games unbeaten, upwards trajectory maintained and United move on to a trip to Ipswich Town on Boxing Day. See you there. Merry Christmas.
Att:22,285
Away: 886
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Darrell Fisher, Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds and Rex/Shutterstock