Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Millwall: Point enough to lift Owls off the bottom
- Published
Shaun Hutchinson joined Millwall from Fulham in 2016
Sheffield Wednesday climbed off the foot of the table for the first time this season after a goalless draw with Millwall.
After having their 12-point deduction halved in midweek, the point lifted the Owls above Derby on goal difference.
The Owls missed several second-half chances to beat the Lions, with goalkeeper Bart Bialkowski saving twice from Adam Reach and denying Joey Pelupessy in a five-minute spell.
Shaun Hutchinson wasted Millwall's best chance shortly after the break, battling well to earn a free header from Jed Wallace's corner but powering over from six yards.
The draw capped a good week for the Owls after Tuesday's home win over Bournemouth was followed by a successful appeal that saw six points taken off their original EFL punishment for a breach of spending rules.
The Lions were the first to threaten after a slow-burning start, with Scott Malone heading just wide after Mason Bennett's fine run and cut back, and Ryan Leonard dragging an effort narrowly past the post.
The Owls improved after the second half and looked the more likely winners, but could find no way past a Millwall defence that has kept 10 clean sheets in their last 14 away league matches.
And Gary Rowett's side should have snatched the points when Connor Mahoney's delivery found Matt Smith unmarked, but the defender somehow headed wide.
Wednesday have now scored just once in their last five games, but climbed to 23rd, while Millwall stay ninth with just one league defeat in seven.
Owls manager Garry Monk told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"There is a bit of disbelief how we haven't won that game. Defensively we did exactly what we wanted to do and kept them to a clean sheet and we dominated the game with the ball, especially in the second half, and created the chances.
"We will continue to keep working at it and it will drop for the guys in front of goal. A bit more ruthless finishing and less good goalkeeping - that's all we need.
"It's 10 points back in a week and we're off the bottom so the confidence is there."
Millwall boss Gary Rowett said:
"I thought we were poor - it's as simple as that. We tried to overplay when we didn't need to overplay and Sheffield Wednesday were brighter than us.
"We had a couple of big chances. Hutchinson had a free header and (Matt) Smith had a free header and you expect them to score.
"It would have been completely unfair on Sheffield Wednesday because they were better than us and probably deserved the three points.
"We've got a week to have a breather. If we're going to kick on, we're going to have to perform better than that."