Tykes hold out Wednesday at windy Oakwell

Wednesday were left frustrated after having only taken a point from local rivals Barnsley in a goal less draw on a windy afternoon at Oakwell. Although the result extended Wednesday's run of three successive clean sheets at the back a point wasn't enough to prevent them dropping back into the bottom three.

Brian Laws was without Jermaine Johnson (suspension) and Lee Bullen (hamstring) but that meant returns to the starting line-up for Richard Hinds and Burton O'Brien. Laws opted for a unfamiliar 4-1-4-1 formation with Adam Bolder playing in front of the back four and assigned the special task of man marking Tykes' danger man Brian Howard. Marcus Tudgay reverted to a right-wing position with Wade Small on the other side and Enoch Showunmi upfront on his own to begin with.

Barnsley, who face Chelsea in an upcoming FA Cup Quarter Final, started lively and Jon Macken's neat turn and shot went unpunished from the edge of the box. At the other end the Owls were causing havoc with whipped balls into the box but their best chance of the half by far fell to defender Richard Wood. Graham Kavanagh's free-kick evaded everyone before bouncing awkwardly infront of the home side's keeper Luke Steele. Wood was off balance as he collided with the ball but sent it over the bar from just a few yards out.

The second half belonged to Wednesday and as the game wore on you felt an away goal was on the cards.

Bolder was booked for diving in the box and while contact did appear to be minimal there did seem to be a hand on the midfielder's shirt as he ran into the Barnsley penalty area.

Israeli international substitute Ben Sahar, on loan from Chelsea, showed quality to fire one on target from range but Steele was equal to the shot.

The Owls nearly nicked it in injury time. Burton O'Brien received the ball a good 30 yards from goal and let fly with a left foot pile driver that hit the base of Steele's left hand post and deflected wide. In the end though Wednesday had to settle with a point as they head into a hectic March that sees them play six games in four weeks.

Laws verdict: "The biggest element today was the wind. It did become a bit of a scrap, it's a local derby and a lot of pride was shown." "Both sides showed a lot if endeavour, they had a real go." "We could have got a bit more out of the game but you've got to take your chances when you can."