Alfie Gilchrist of West Bromwich Albion wins a headed challenge with Jamal Lowe of Sheffield WednesdayGetty Images

Sheffield Wednesday are now on minus five points at the foot of the table

Harry De Cosemo
BBC Sport England

West Bromwich Albion were held to a goalless draw by Championship bottom club Sheffield Wednesday at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies dominated possession but could not find a breakthrough, with Wednesday goalkeeper Ethan Horvath making a string of good saves.

A week on from going into administration and incurring a 12-point deduction, the Owls ended a run of four straight defeats with this stalemate.

It is a third successive game without a win for Albion, who missed the chance to go level on points with sixth-placed Stoke and were booed off by some supporters.

The hosts started with real purpose and went close twice in the first five minutes as Mikey Johnston forced Horvath into action before Isaac Price fired over.

Horvath reacted well again on 20 minutes, denying Alex Mowatt at full stretch after he fired goalwards from the edge of the area.

The keeper then did well to deny Josh Maja at the back post from a deep corner before Johnston shot wide from distance, as the Baggies ramped up the pressure before half-time.

After a passive start to the second half, Wednesday's Ike Ugbo could have punished slack play in the Albion midfield on a quick break but his shot was tame.

Owls midfielder Liam Palmer then skied an effort inside the area after a long throw fell kindly for him as, although the home side dominated the ball, their lack of cutting edge always left the door open for Wednesday.

Horvath again kept the scores level inside the last 10 minutes, holding onto a stray ball after Dominic Iorfa diverted a dangerous cross.

Baggies striker Karlan Grant also squandered two late opportunities as the visitors held out for a first point since the end of September.

'We played on edge' - Mason

Mason: 'We were too anxious and lost our way'

West Bromwich Albion boss Ryan Mason told BBC Radio WM:

"It was disappointing not to win. The performance in the second half was a little disjointed. We rushed things and played a little bit on edge. Tough to accept.

"The first half for 25 minutes, I thought we played a really good game. We had loads of final third entries, loads of moments.

"I understand the first goal is crucial and the longer the game was 0-0 there was probably a bit of anxiety.

"The energy shifted and we need to learn from that and be disciplined and do what we need to for 95 minutes.

"Every game in this league is demanding and challenging - we had so many moments that didn't materialise and we need to improve on that."

'We were where we wanted to be defensively' - Pedersen

Pedersen: 'I'm very satisfied'

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"I am very satisfied. We have spoken a lot this week about who we want to be across 95 minutes and who we don't want to be.

"From the first moment today, we had a difficult beginning, we played a strong first half. It is a difficult place to play and a strong opponent.

"It is the first time I felt we were where we want to be defensively over 95 minutes. There are things to work on offensively and we want to work on [them].

"Sean [Fusire] was fantastic today, how he always jumped and won his duels. They started to play behind him but he won all his running duels and was calm on the ball. Harry [Amass] had a really strong beginning, big respect to him."

Player of the match

E. Horvath
8.29
11 M. Johnston
5.40
20 J. Griffiths
4.86
14 A. Gilchrist
4.79
3 N. Phillips
4.72
4 C. Styles
4.70
2 C. Mepham
4.69
17 O. Diakité
4.66
21 I. Price
4.51
27 A. Mowatt
4.51
22 S. Iling-Junior
4.41
10 K. Ahearne-Grant
4.40
5 K. Bielik
4.39
9 J. Maja
4.20
29 C. Taylor
4.04
19 A. Heggebø
3.79
12 D. Dike
3.65
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