Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea City. The FA Cup Fifth Round.
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Saturday 17 February 2018 16:18, UK
Swansea face a third successive replay after being held by Sheffield Wednesday to a 0-0 draw on Carlos Carvalhal's return to Hillsborough in the FA Cup fifth round.
Carvalhal was back at Hillsborough for the first time since he was sacked by Wednesday on Christmas Eve following a two-and-a-half year stint at the club, but his return fell flat.
In a game of very few clear-cut chances, Wednesday's best opening came in the third minute when Kristoffer Nordfeldt's outstretched hand denied Adam Reach, while Cameron Dawson also had to be on top form to keep out Mike van der Hoorn's header just before the break.
A replay is probably not what either side wanted but they could not force a winner in the second half and the two teams will now battle it out again at the Liberty Stadium during the week commencing February 26 for a place in the quarter-finals.
Wednesday almost made the perfect start with Reach bursting through on goal from midfield in the third minute, but Nordfeldt did brilliantly to tip the midfielder's shot past the post.
The hosts continued to pile the pressure on the Premier League side in the early stages and Swansea needed a crucial intervention from Kyle Naughton, who was a late call-up to the starting line-up after Alfie Mawson's injury, to stop Atdhe Nuhiu latching onto Jack Hunt's cross.
However, Swansea eventually grew into the game and Wednesday needed Cameron Dawson to keep the scores level as the goalkeeper produced a world-class stop to keep out Van der Hoorn's powerful header from close range.
The game opened up with 20 minutes left as Wednesday began to tire, and it was Swansea looking the more threatening. First Wayne Routledge's shot was blocked behind before substitute Jordan Ayew fired straight at Dawson.
Both managers turned to their bench in search of a winner and Nuhiu almost broke the deadlock but his turn and shot was comfortably held by Nordfeldt.
The final chance of the game fell to Wednesday as Nuhiu played in Reach, but the midfielder's cross evaded Lucas Joao, who was later flagged for offside.
Swansea are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions (W5 D5), their best run since November 2009 (11 games).
The Owls are winless in 18 FA Cup matches against Premier League opposition (D6 L12).
Since Jos Luhukay took charge of his first Sheffield Wednesday match, the Owls have drawn four matches goalless, more than any other side (currently in the top four tiers) in all competitions.
Sheffield Wednesday have kept six clean sheets in their nine matches under Luhukay in all competitions, as many as they managed in their first 29 matches this season prior to his appointment.
The Swans have conceded nine goals in 12 matches under Carlos Carvalhal - they conceded nine goals in the three matches before he took over.
Carlos Carvalhal (Swansea): "We still have an opportunity to stay in the cup so it's nothing negative. Credit to Sheffield Wednesday, in the first 25 minutes they pressed us and created problems. At the end I think the result is fair and let's go to another game."
Jos Luhukay (Sheffield Wednesday): "We had a very strong beginning, we had a very good chance with Adam Reach. After that we played very good football I think. Swansea had one very good chance, and Cammie Dawson made a fantastic save. We stay in the FA Cup. Now we must go to Swansea and I know it's a hard game for us but we must try to go a round further."
On a day when the defences came out on top, Pudil was excellent at the heart of the Sheffield Wednesday rearguard.
The 32-year-old kept a close eye on Tammy Abraham, keeping the England U21 striker quiet as he looked to impress the watching Gareth Southgate.
Pudil always seemed to be in right place at the right time, heading every ball and making crucial tackles as the Championship side battled to a much-deserved replay.
Sheffield Wednesday are back in Championship action on Tuesday and face a trip to The Den to face Millwall (7.45pm). Meanwhile, Swansea are also back in league action and travel to Brighton in the Premier League next Saturday (3pm).
