Steve Bruce stays unbeaten as Sheffield Wednesday hold Millwall to goalless draw

Three games into his residency at Sheffield Wednesday, Steve Bruce’s side haven’t conceded a goal. Be that as it may, honestly, he couldn’t have been given an a lot less demanding begin. Wednesday have confronted toothless resistance in Ipswich, Reading, and now Millwall.Not much of a barometer to judge the veteran manager in his latest endeavour.

Possibly it was the blend of the mid-week with the mid-season calm, or even the diversion of the Champions League warding off the fans, however neighborhood journalists were guaranteeing they’d never heard the Den this quiet before. That savagely scary, practically crazy atmosphere that Millwall are well known for, which guided them to their FA Cup defeat against Everton 17 days prior, had been diminished from a thunder to a greater degree a waning whimper. There was not really an applaud or boo to be heard at half-time as the players traipsed down the tunnel; put down to disinterest than anything else.

The football was mostly a mirror image of that void. The fact one of the game’s bigger talking points was the colour clash of kits – both were donning blue and white – said a lot about the quality. The little action on offer was reserved for the second half, and desire was scarce.

Millwall were soliciting most from the questions. After a Ben Marshall header was turned over, and Jed Wallace’s free-kick parried away, there appeared to be greater smoothness to their play going ahead as the Lion’s developed into the game. Millwall still haven’t scored an goal in open play since early December, yet their greatest danger was on the counter, with Chelsea loanee Michael Hector frequently close by to remove the supply, and steer ownership around to support Wednesday. The 26-year-old was certainly the away side’s emerge player.

Neil Harris tinkered uncharacterisically with his Millwall line-up, trying to get their first alliance win since New Year’s Day. Aiden O’Brien was given an opportunity in front, but the striker’s preformance, with only two chances in the second half, failed to dazzle.

There was more life in guests after the break. Lucas Joao’s roaring exertion from simply inside the container would’ve gone in had it been anyplace yet at the keeper’s chest, Jordan Archer fast to palm it into the ground. Despite the fact that Millwall appeared to be bound to lead the pack all through, a heap of lost goes at the back enabled some desire for achance to pounce and nick the lead. Steven Fletcher almost did just that in the dying seconds, firing over from close range.

Wallace’s smooth touch to control and cross from the correct flank offered a look at what the home group were searching for – O’Brien’s subsequent header at the close post should’ve been the opener. There was all of a sudden more vitality around the ground as the temperature of the game rose slightly towards the end.

The expansion of some experience in advance as Steve Morison gave the hosts some flame control going ahead in the last stages. Despite the fact that Morison covered his first exertion into the group, the striker’s header crosswise over goal was almost turned in by Marshall over the most recent 10 minutes, however was cleaned hurriedly up the line. That chance paired with sustitute Fred Onyedinma’s failed stepover as he waded into the box moments later summed up a hapless evening for Millwall.

Heading into the final third of the season, Harris will keep with the Lions’ rehashed point of hitting the agreeable 50-point mark, which should promise them safety. But the relegation zone is still looming five points below. Though they’re better known for finding strength in the business end of their campaign, they’ll need to start digging deeper to find that rhythm again.