It was far from a classic but an improved display from Wednesday saw us take a hard-earned point in a goalless draw with Darren Moore’s Huddersfield at Hillsborough this afternoon.
We remain at the foot of the table with just three points from 11 games and still seven from safety but we at least looked much more like a competitive outfit and showed some of the creativity, teamwork and commitment that has been desperately missing since the start of the season.
Caretaker boss Neil Thompson rung the changes by naming an ‘old guard’ starting line-up that included just one of our numerous summer signings and there was an excellent reception for ex-manager Moore as he made his way to the away dugout.
Wednesday began the game in promising fashion and went close after just three minutes. An excellent pass from Will Vaulks was headed down by Michael Smith into the path of George Byers and his shot from 15 yards deflected off the leg of Huddersfield defender Michal Helik for a corner.
However, the visitors began to grow into the game, particularly from set-pieces, and we had a big let-off on 13 minutes when Cameron Dawson made a hash of a punched clearance but Josh Koroma lobbed the loose ball just wide of the Kop goal.
We had a spell of decent pressure leading up to half time but there were few clearcut chances at either end until our best opportunity of the game came just after the hour when a Will Vaulks corner was headed down by Smith to Callum Paterson six yards out but his snapshot on the turn went inches wide.
At the other end, Huddersfield thought they had grabbed a winner right at the end of the 90 minutes when Kian Harratt drove home in a crowded area but the effort was ruled out for a foul by ex-Owl Tom Lees on Dawson when they challenged for the ball from a corner moments before the shot.
That would have been tough on a Wednesday side and while our poor goalscoring record now stretches to just one goal in the last seven games the return of Michael Ihiekwe and Reece James brought much-needed stability at the back, with summer signing Di’Shon Bernard also turning in his best display of the season alongside them.
Dawson, Palmer, Iorfa, Ihiekwe, Bernard, James (Valentin 84), Vaulks, Byers, Paterson (Buckley 77), Gregory (Wilks 61), Smith. Unused subs: Vasquez, B.Diaby, Hendrick, Cadamarteri, Phuthi, Musaba. Attendance: 26,025.