\n<\/p>\n
Sheffield United put their latest financial worries to one side to earn a gritty draw against a toothless Swansea.<\/p>\n
It was a second successive goalless scoreline for the Blades, who drew 0-0 at Birmingham last weekend.<\/p>\n
Manager Chris Wilder and his team may have had their build-up distracted by the threat of a 12-point deduction for the club due to unpaid debts, but they looked focused and disciplined, if not very threatening.<\/p>\n
They managed two shots on target, compared to a Sky Bet Championship low of zero last week, but that was one more than the Swans mustered.<\/p>\n
The home side started with Adam Idah up front, sent on Zan Vipotnik, and ended up throwing on new signing Ross Stewart for his debut late on.<\/p>\n
But all three failed to fire as Swansea were unable to make it successive wins at the start of the season following last week’s victory at Stoke.<\/p>\n
Despite the perfect conditions, neither side was able to display much quality in an error-strewn opening half hour.<\/p>\n
Swansea applied most of the pressure and should have gone ahead when a floated corner from Josh Tymon in the 19th minute was allowed to bounce in the goalmouth, but none of his team-mates were able to take advantage.<\/p>\n
Home winger Moussa Yeo then cut in from the left and was allowed two bites of the cherry to set up Elijah Just.<\/p>\n
But the low grade stuff was summed up by the New Zealand World Cup star’s total miskick from 12 yards out.<\/p>\n
When the visitors did make a rare foray forward, midfielder Harrison Burrows was shown a yellow card for diving after what referee Tom Nield judged a fair tackle from Filip Lissah.<\/p>\n
The Blades finally roused themselves in the late stages of the half and almost snatched the lead when Callum O’Hare’s volley struck the underside of the bar.<\/p>\n
Joe Rothwell’s rebound effort was then charged down and Swansea managed to clear their lines.<\/p>\n
Idah’s strength opened up the Sheffield United defence early in the second half, but team-mate Joseph Opoku was unable to profit as his shot lacked power and direction.<\/p>\n
The next opportunity spurned was down to the Blades’ centre-back Mark McGuinness who sliced wide with a volley from a free-kick.<\/p>\n
Swansea head coach Vitor Matos swapped Idah for last season’s top scorer Vipotnik on the hour mark and followed that with a raft of other substitutions.<\/p>\n
But the changes failed to lift the tempo for the home side and it was the Sheffield United striking pair of O’Hare and Patrick Bamford who looked the more threatening.<\/p>\n
O’Hare cleverly got in behind Swansea’s defence, but his cross was not anticipated by a teammate.<\/p>\n
Swansea had a late surge but their finishing remained poor.<\/p>\n
Swansea’s Vitor Matos:<\/em><\/p>\n “I think last week we played better football, but each game has different kinds of problems.<\/p>\n “We knew this one would be much more in terms of duels, in terms of man-marking, so you need to have different tools for these kinds of games.”<\/p>\n Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder:<\/em><\/p>\n “I said to the players there would be a lot of eyes on us today to see how we react to what’s happened in the week.<\/p>\n “Their job is to be professional footballers, get on with the job, and they’ve done that to great effect, in my opinion.<\/p>\n “It goes without saying how proud I am of my football club, the supporters and the team. There’s a genuine connection there.”<\/p>\nWhat the result means and next fixtures…<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n