Ronald of Swansea tries a shot on goal as Marvin Johnson of Sheffield Wednesday attempts to blockImage source, Huw Evans Agency
Image caption,

Ronald had one of Swansea's big chances, but saw his shot saved by James Beadle after a partial block by Marvin Johnson

Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City were forced to settle for a point apiece as both sides hit the woodwork in a goalless draw at Hillsborough.

Swansea’s best opportunity came inside the opening 10 minutes, when Jay Fulton's first-time effort was brilliantly turned on to the post by goalkeeper James Beadle.

Wednesday looked the more likely victors as the contest went on, coming closest to a breakthrough when Pol Valentin got in at the far post but saw his shot ricochet to safety off the upright.

The draw means Wednesday have lost only once in their last five Championship games, though there will be some frustration that they did not take all three points given their greater menace as this contest wore on.

The stalemate means Swansea's winless run now stands at five matches, while they have not scored a goal in more than seven hours of football.

Nevertheless, Luke Williams' team will take some satisfaction from the draw given their struggles away from home so far this season.

A point is enough to keep them 13th in the table, while Danny Rohl's Wednesday team are up a place to 17th.

Swansea and goal-fests have not been mentioned in the same sentence this season, with the Welsh side now the Championship's lowest scorers while also boasting one of the division's best defensive records.

Their one major opportunity in the first half fell to midfielder Fulton, who turned Ronald's volleyed pass goalwards only for Beadle's reactions to save the Owls.

Swansea had plenty of first-half possession, but it was Wednesday who had more sights of goal.

Svante Ingelsson ought to have done better when he shot wide from Djeidi Gassama's inviting pass, while the big Swede also saw a header blocked before Jamal Lowe's shot from an awkward angle sliced wide.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency
Image caption,

Azeem Abdulai (right) was one of five Swansea changes following their weekend loss at Blackburn, while Sheffield Wednesday made only two starting alterations

Swansea old boy Lowe threatened once more early in the second half, driving into the area and going to ground as Ben Cabango stuck out a leg, but his penalty appeals were ignored.

By now the hosts were showing more intent, with Josh Tymon's last-ditch clearance denying Gassama a tap-in before Ingelsson pulled wide from the edge of the box.

Swansea countered after a misplaced pass, with Azeem Abdulai turning down the chance to shoot and instead picking out Ronald, whose effort was repelled by a combination of Marvin Johnson and Beadle.

Wednesday were soon back on the front foot, Johnson crossing for Valentin only for the Spaniard to turn the ball on to the outside of the post.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl:

"It’s a little bit of a similar story at the moment. We try, we invest, we run, we win balls, we have good build-up, we attack the spaces. But in the box of the opponent, we are not clinical.

"To win games you have to score and first you need shots on target. Today we had good opportunities, but no shots on target. At the moment that is the issue.

"It's hard to take for my team, I feel for them, but we will come through it and if we start to score, then we can win games in a row.

"With Jamal [and the penalty appeal], I think there is a contact but I am not the ref."

Swansea head coach Luke Williams:

"I don't think a point is quite enough to satisfy anyone, but we deserved at least a point so we take that.

"Of course there's frustration [over not scoring] because you cannot win without scoring a goal. But I am backing the players that we have in the squad to start finding the back of the net.

"We have a lot of positives about our performances, but of course we have to start scoring more goals.

"If I knew exactly how to solve the problem, it would have been solved already. Today we've hit the woodwork and sometimes that's how close you can come."