Terrier on the Terraces: Goalless draw with Wednesday was inevitable

With the Terriers coming off the back of two defeats and Wednesday nine without a win and having netted only 12 times all season, stalemate was inevitable.

It was a frustrating afternoon. Although Town created the better chances, they were also nearly architects of their own downfall.

Although stand-in keeper Joe Murphy only had one real save to make, it was an outstanding reaction save in the dying seconds after a mistake on the halfway line left four Wednesday players bearing down on goal. At the other end, Nahki Wells and Sean Scannell both squandered fine chances.

The defence will be relieved to have got a clean sheet, especially with first-choice goalkeeper Alex Smithies out with back spasms.

Despite errors on more than one occasion, the defence held firm to preserve only the third clean sheet of the season. Chris Powell will have been relieved to see the nil in the goals against column.

In truth, the game produced few talking points.

Despite Stuart Gray’s assertions to the contrary, Sheffield Wednesday should not have had a penalty after Chris Maguire’s blatant dive in the final few minutes.

The player himself was booked, leading to Gray’s angry response to the media. It’s the second time this season opposition managers have defended players after very clear attempts to cheat against Town, following Uwe Rosler’s outburst after another 0-0 draw, this time against Wigan. Rosler also argued his side should have had a penalty, in the face of all the evidence.

This lack of honesty on the touchline is frustrating.

Players dive, it’s true. And players will be defended by their managers. But it would be nice to see a manager come out and make appropriate criticisms rather than attempt to con the media into believing they were short-changed.

The time has come to ban players who dive and ban managers who defend them.