The Steel City derby honours were shared after United and Wednesday saw out a second successive 0-0 draw at Bramall Lane. United completely dominated the game from start to finish in terms of possession, attempts on goal and play but a penalty save from Cameron Dawson and saved at the beginning and the end meant Wednesday somehow got out with a point. United played some lovely football and controlled proceedings but will have been disappointed with their play in the final third when they did not enough to break down a determined defensive rear-guard.

Played in front of abysmal weather conditions, Wilder brought back Basham, Duffy and McGoldrick for Cranie, Coutts and Clarke. Wednesday did not feature Forestieri despite rumours he may make the match day squad and went with one up top; Fletcher in a very defensive looking formation. After the Remembrance Day tributes pre-match were observed the game kicked off and United were straight on the front foot. Within a few minutes neat football saw the ball moved across and Fleck hit a shot that stung the palms of Dawson. O’Connell got on the end of the corner but nodded over. Wednesday were on the back foot and Duffy was prompting and probing and Stevens ball just evaded a United attacker. A rare break saw Fox get on the end of a deep cross but his effort went over under pressure from Freeman.

On 15 minutes more, slick football saw McGoldrick link well with Duffy and the United man was felled under Fox’s challenge. It seemed a fairly routine decision and referee Madley immediately pointed to the spot. McGoldrick had scored all his efforts this season but this time his effort was palmed round the post from Dawson who made an excellent save. The corner came to nothing and United had to bounce back from this disappointment.

United won a number of other corners and then Sharp could not quite direct his effort. Norwood shot wide and then Stevens again got in the left-hand side but his cross was cleared. It had been one-way traffic all game. Fleck then probed and linked well with Duffy but Wednesday held firm. Duffy then had a cross shot headed wide by Hector which seemed on target. Baker then scrambled clear after another incisive move.

The second half saw United continue in the ascendancy. McGoldrick came inside and hit a shot but Dawson saved this one comfortably. Basham then got in but his cross was cleared. The game became scrappy for a spell and Wednesday had not been defending as deep as the first half as United started to not quite have the same level of control in the final third; even though they were dominating the football.

Reach had a long-range effort well over but it was back the other way quickly enough and Stevens drew a bad foul on Banana who got booked. Mattias who came on nearly got in by Henderson and Freeman blocked the opportunity out. Clarke came on for McGoldrick but United had not create as many clear openings this half despite having much more of the ball again. Duffy had a low shot saved by Dawson and United won two more corners but O’Connell mistimed his jump again. Norwood gave it away cheaply and as with the game last year United were always concerned about conceding a smash and grab goal.

Hector then got booked for wrestling Clarke down before Mattias had an effort that Henderson save easily. The game went into three minutes of additional time and in this time United had two chance and Sharp flashed his header just wide from a Norwood corner. Then after Clarke was fouled again; Norwood had the final chance but his free kick was beat away by the man of the match Dawson and that was the last moment of the game. As they did last year the Wednesday fans celebrated the 0-0 draw like a victory whilst the United fans trooped away disappointed.

After reflecting back on the game both sets of fans may see things differently. United proved again they are a really good side, that just lack a bit of cutting edge and penetration and the ruthlessness they need. Wednesday showed some heart and gusto and were resolute but never really tried to attack. If both teams replicate those levels of performance week in, week out, United will finish near the top and Wednesday will finish near the bottom. Still a disappointing night for the Blades when a poor Owls team was there for the taking but we did not do enough to get the win our performance deserved.

United – Lots of good things. First half we were very good and dominated and should have been a few goals up. The penalty goes in and the game changes and they cannot defend anymore like they were doing but the longer the game goes on; the more they can sit back. We played some lovely stuff and the football again was excellent. We had some ok chances but nothing clear cut. I felt still we had enough control, possession, play in the final third, corners and enough of the ball to make it count. We should have been winning by a few goals at half time. They were not in the game.

2nd half we never quite had the domination we did first half but still were better but it was too slow to be moved forward and we did not penetrate enough. We took too many touches and allowed them to get all 11 behind the ball. I felt we kind of were a bit toothless and no one showed the gusto to run at them and draw men. If we had advanced more bodies forward or committed the defenders more; we may have got chances. We did dominate but other than the Fleck and Norwood long range efforts at the beginning and end and the penalty miss; how many clear chances or saves occurred. That is disappointing for all the good play. It was not as if they were tremendous or defended brilliantly. We just took too long to move it and overplayed. We needed to get more crosses in the box, take more shots and take more of a risk. We kept it but did little meaningful with it.

No one played really badly but no one was outstanding. Our players and team were all good but not very good the level we needed to beat a poor opponent. Forget who it was; we have to be better to break teams down like that; especially one who had not kept a clean sheet all season till tonight.

We had our best 11 out and some decent options on the bench in Clarke and Coutts but still lacked that thrust to me. It was all nice and pretty but not ruthless and reminded me of many games last year post Xmas. The sort of performance once again that was good and nice to watch but makes you think we might be a bit short again for the top 6. We need to get those extra options at the top of the pitch to make it count in such games. We had no pace or Duffy alternative to really go and stretch them and in the end other than the late free kick they saw us out fairly comfortably despite our possession advantage.

Not going to get too down in the dumps. We still are a good side to watch. We are still a damn sight better than them and will finish higher in the league.