Sheffield United put their latest financial worries to one side to earn a gritty draw against a toothless Swansea. It was a second successive goalless scoreline for the Blades, who drew 0-0 at Birmingham last weekend. Manager Chris Wilder and his team may have had their build-up distracted by the threat of a 12-point deduction for the club due to unpaid debts, but they looked focused and disciplined, if not very threatening.
They managed two shots on target, compared to a Sky Bet Championship low of zero last week, but that was one more than the Swans mustered. The home side started with Adam Idah up front, sent on Zan Vipotnik, and ended up throwing on new signing Ross Stewart for his debut late on. But all three failed to fire as Swansea were unable to make it successive wins at the start of the season following last week's victory at Stoke.
Despite the perfect conditions, neither side was able to display much quality in an error-strewn opening half hour. Swansea applied most of the pressure and should have gone ahead when a floated corner from Josh Tymon in the 19th minute was allowed to bounce in the goalmouth, but none of his team-mates were able to take advantage. Home winger Moussa Yeo then cut in from the left and was allowed two bites of the cherry to set up Elijah Just.
But the low grade stuff was summed up by the New Zealand World Cup star's total miskick from 12 yards out. When the visitors did make a rare foray forward, midfielder Harrison Burrows was shown a yellow card for diving after what referee Tom Nield judged a fair tackle from Filip Lissah. The Blades finally roused themselves in the late stages of the half and almost snatched the lead when Callum O'Hare's volley struck the underside of the bar.
Joe Rothwell's rebound effort was then charged down and Swansea managed to clear their lines. Idah's strength opened up the Sheffield United defence early in the second half, but team-mate Joseph Opoku was unable to profit as his shot lacked power and direction. The next opportunity spurned was down to the Blades' centre-back Mark McGuinness who sliced wide with a volley from a free-kick.
Swansea head coach Vitor Matos swapped Idah for last season's top scorer Vipotnik on the hour mark and followed that with a raft of other substitutions. But the changes failed to lift the tempo for the home side and it was the Sheffield United striking pair of O'Hare and Patrick Bamford who looked the more threatening. O'Hare cleverly got in behind Swansea's defence, but his cross was not anticipated by a teammate.
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