First goalless draw of season

Charlton had their first goalless draw of the season at Hillsborough tonight when they secured an away point against Sheffield Wednesday. Once again Nicky Weaver showed his worth. All the teams above them won with the exception of the Baggies who drew 0-0 with the Blades. Crystal Palace kicked off at 8 p.m. and were losing 0-1 to the Tractors.

The game started quietly, although the home side probably had the better of the play in the opening minutes. Gray was looking lively up front, but the pitch soon started to cut up.

Luke Varney outwitted the Wednesday defence and found himself one on one with the keeper but put the ball into the side neeting. Wednesday lost Kavanagh and brought on Wallwork.

Bullen scrambled the ball off the line for the Owls. At the other end Wednesday had a chance from a header from Wood but Nicky Weaver made a great save. He also denied Showumi with a one handed reflex save. Matt Holland burst through the centre but his shot went wide. Then it was the turn of Ambrose to forge through the centre but his shot went just wide.

Half time: Owls 0, Addicks 0

Youga had been booked in the first half and was pulled off at the break in favour of Semedo. The Owls tried to get in the game from the kick off with a long shot that failed to trouble Nicky Weaver. Something of a dead patch in the game followed, but then Nicky Weaver made a great save from the Wednesday captain, Lee Bullen, at point blank range, the custodian palming the ball away.

There were a couple of scrambles in the Addicks goalmouth and Pards brought on Iwelumo for Gray on 63 minutes and then replaced Lloyd Sam by debutante Lee Cook, but they could not break the deadlock. Luke Varney got the ball in the net, but it was correctly ruled offside.

Zheng Zhi had a late chance, but shot over from six yards. The Owls hooted for a penalty as Tudgay's advance was checked, but as we pointed out earlier, the referee is no homer and did not allow it. Whatever happened tonight, Charlton were likely to remain 5th. At least they did not lose as they have done against other relegation threatened teams.