Swansea 0-0 Wednesday

Wednesday picked a well-deserved point from high-flying Swansea City to lift them out of the Championship relegation zone.

Both sides had great chances to snatch all three points at the Liberty Stadium, but it’ll be a case of a point gained for Wednesday in the battle against a drop.

Owls boss Alan Irvine kept faith with the same starting eleven that fell to a 1-0 defeat at West Brom in midweek, with Leon Clarke partnering Luke Varney in attack.

Marcus Tudgay did return to the Owls squad following illness, but he had to make do with a place on the substitutes bench.

For Swansea, former Owl Shefki Kuqi was only on the bench, despite his match-winning strike at Watford last weekend.

Irvine was well aware of the possession play that Swansea are so good at this season, and the hosts were dominant in the early exchanges as they came flying out of the blocks.

The hosts were bossing the play, although not testing Owls’ stopper Lee Grant too much early on.

Former Blade David Cotterill came close with a half-chance, while top-scorer Darren Pratley was also looking dangerous for the Welsh side.

The Wednesday defence, led by former Cardiff City man Darren Purse, soaked up the pressure well though and soon got back into the game.

Clarke did have a half chance for the Owls but it was the only opportunity Wednesday were to carve out in the opening half an hour.

Swansea were on top for the opening 30 minutes but Wednesday upped their game and had more of a say in the remaining 15 minutes of the first half.

Jermaine Johnson wasn’t involved in the game enough but when he did get his first real opportunity it was enough to give the home support a scare.

On the halfway line, he turned two markers before surging 40-yards towards the Swansea goal but seeing a low shot go straight at stopper Dorus De Vries.

It was the start of a better spell of play for Irvine’s men before the half-time interval but the sides went in level at the break.

Half-Time: Swansea 0-0 Wednesday

Swansea made two substitutions at half-time with former Owl Shefki Kuqi replacing Craig Beattie, while Cedirc Van der Gun came on for Thomas Butler.

And the changes almost saw an immediate impact for the hosts with Kuqi lashing an effort just over the woodwork.

The game opened up in the opening exchanges of the second period and Wednesday were looking as dangerous as their hosts.

Clarke twice came close to connecting with dangerous crosses across the goal-mouth from Johnson and Luke Varney as a more end-to-end game unfolded.

Wednesday had a let-off midway through the second half when Pratley stormed into the penalty area but blasted an effort over the bar from just six yards out from a cross when he should have done better.

Grant had to be alert to save a Pratley effort with 20 minutes to go when the ball bounced in front of him and the Owls’ number one had to use his chest to divert the danger.

The net could have bulged at the other end just a minute later when Tommy Miller saw a powerful effort hit a Swansea defender and go out for a corner.

Wednesday made their first change before the corner kick when Tudgay came on in place of Varney.

But the match died down in terms of speed for the next ten minutes until Kuqi forced Grant into a good save.

Substitute Lee Trundle also came close but fired wide from six-yards out with five minutes to go.

Swansea were enjoying the better of the chances late on and Wednesday could breath a sigh of relief when a superb Gower ball in was diverted just inches wide from Williams.

But at the other end Clarke should have put Wednesday into the lead when he somehow fired a close-range effort wide.

Full-Time: Swansea 0-0 Wednesday