Town had to settle for a second successive away point despite having the better of the chances in the second-half, David Norris hitting the underside of the bar.

Norris was also denied by Lee Grant in the Sheffield Wednesday goal late on and Alan Quinn and Jon Walters forced the 'keeper into excellent saves.

Wednesday were also left frustrated by the woodwork with Marcus Tudgay twice hitting the bar in the first 15 minutes but the Owls were hanging on at the end for the draw.

Pablo Counago was ruled out with an ankle injury picked up in training on Friday but Gareth McAuley returned after a dead leg, Pim Balkestein making way. Veliche Shumulikoski getting the nod in midfield over Tommy Miller as Jim Magilton made two changes from the team that drew with Southampton in midweek.

Blues had the better of the opening exchanges, with Jon Stead and Jon Walters both having half chances.

Blues had an escape on six minutes though when Owen Garvan lost possession inside the Town half, Tudgay breaking away and smashing a shot against the bar.

Blues breathed a huge sigh of relief again on the quarter hour and again it was Tudgay who caused the scare, heading Etienne Esajas' free-kick against the woodwork.

Alan Quinn, who spent close on seven years at Hillsborough before moving across the Steel City to join Sheffield United - hence the boos from the Owls fans throughout the game, clashed heads with Tony McMahon as he looked to get on to a far post cross, the two receiving lengthy treatment.

Steve Watson scuffed his shot from the edge of the box, Richard Wright making the save comfortably, while at the other end Stead couldn't get any direction with his shot as both teams searched that all-important opening goal.

Wednesday carried the greater threat as the 30 minute mark passed, Wright called into action to save from Johnson. Town responded with Quinn firing just wide at the end of a quick break.

Owls' 'keeper Lee Grant punched clear from Walters' cross as Stead challenged, the 'keeper then showing good hands to claim a long pass from McAuley on the edge of his box.

Tudgay beat Wright to a cross but his header went wide, then Quinn's cross was hacked clear by desperate Sheffield defending as the first-half came to a close goalless.

Walters occupied a wide right role from the restart, leaving Stead as a lone frontman with Norris pushing on from central midfield, the former Plymouth player heading Quinn's cross back inside the Wednesday box, Richard Wood clearing. Wright then getting down low to save from Johnson from a Sheffield attack.

David Wright was at the heart of Town's best move of the first hour, Shumulikoski releasing the full-back on the left and his cross eventually fell to Quinn, who rifled in a shot that was well saved by Grant.

Deon Burton replaced Esajas in the first change of the game, the Owls' substitute immediately getting in the action with a cross that was cleared by Moritz Volz.

Quinn had a shot from distance, Walters forced Grant into a good save, then Norris went close as Town pressed for an opener.

Blues made a first change on 69 minutes, Stead replaced by Kevin Lisbie, the striker showing good pace and skill to get away on the right, his cross falling to Walters but the Club's Player of the Year couldn't get enough of it to test Grant.

Wade Small replaced Johnson in the Owls' line-up for the closing 10 minutes but seconds later Town were a coat of paint away from taking the lead, Norris taking Richard Naylor's pass and smashing a shot against the underside of the bar.

Former Town loanee Francis Jeffers entered the fray for the final few minutes, Sean McAllister retreating to the bench, but it was Town who continued to create the better chances in the second-half and Grant denied Norris again from close range.

Shumulikoski's shot was beaten out by the Owls' defence but Brian Laws' side held on, leaving Town forced to settle for a point when - like at Southampton - maybe three were deserved.

Sheff Wed: Grant, Spurr, Gilbert, Wood, McMahon, Watson, McAllister (Jeffers 83), Esajas (Burton 60), O'Connor, Tudgay, Johnson (Small 80). Subs not used: Clarke, Smith.

Town: R.Wright, Volz, McAuley, Naylor, D.Wright, Norris, Garvan, Shumulikoski, Quinn, Stead (Lisbie 69), Walters. Subs not used: Supple, Miller, Campo, Haynes.
Att: 17,198