Sheffield Wednesday brought a hard-earned point back from Coventry City on Saturday afternoon after a tough battle in the West Midlands.

It was not a pretty game against Chris Coleman's side with the Owls struggling to make many meaningful attacks on new loanee Kasper Schmeichel's goal but the result could provide another vital point in the battle against the drop.

Brian Laws kept with the same starting eleven that came from a goal down at Colchester to win 2-1 in midweek. Adam Bolder returned from a two-match suspension to take up a position on the substitutes bench alongside Peter Gilbert, returning from a groin strain.

The match at the Ricoh Arena started in high tempo fashion but neither side managed to get the ball down and pass it effectively in the opening quarter of an hour.

It was a keenly contested opening with an ample helping of head tennis, neither keeper really having to make a save until Best slipped the ball diagonally across the box for Jay Tabb on 12 minutes. Lee Grant held the midfielder's shot comfortably at the second attempt though.

Kevin Thornton had already gone down under Hinds' challenge on the left-hand side of the penalty area but appeals for a spot kick were calmly waved away by the referee.

Halfway through the opening period the game was largely being played out in the middle third of the pitch but Coventry started to make more of their possession and began to make inroads towards the Wednesday goal.

Meaty challenges were the order of the day and Grant was one of three Wednesday players booked in the first half an hour after he squared up to Thornton following a coming together as the keeper allowed the ball to run out of play.

Sky Blues defender, Elliott Ward had to be on hand to clear in the six-yard box after some intricate play around the home side's penalty area saw Deon Burton feed Wade Small on 38 minutes.

But Wood soon had to make sure of a good tackle on Malta international Michael Mifsud as Coventry countered.

Again Wednesday made a good opening as Graham Kavanagh fed Franck Songo'o on the right. The loan winger's first time cross found Marcus Tudgay on the edge of the six-yard box but Schmeichel was off his line quickly to thwart the Owls forward.

But Coventry went close just before the interval when left back Danny Fox sent an angled drive just over from 35 yards.

With the scores level going into the second half, Laws would have been disappointed with his side's lack of ball retention but the Owls again gifted possession cheaply during the early stages after the break allowing Coventry to get on the front foot.

On 55 minutes Mifsud pierced the Wednesday back line, beating Tommy Spurr and Sean McAllister before firing into the side netting when passing to a team mate would have been a better option.

Grant was glad to hold onto the ball moments later when defender, Scott Dann's header from a corner lacked power.
And the Owls would have been just as happy to see Thornton fire wide from eight yards after failing to clear their lines on 68 minutes.

Grant was on hand to make a fine save low to his right on 75 minutes when Mifsud latched on to a long diagonal ball but as the match wore on and the travelling Wednesday faithful grew louder in voice the visitors resolve seemed to grow.

The away fans could have thought fortune was favouring their side with ten minutes to go when right back Isaac Osbourne pulled back for Mifsud to strike at goal from the edge of the box only to see his effort deflected wide.

Again Grant came to the rescue with four minutes remaining pushing a powerful 20-yard drive from Mifsud wide following a corner.

In the last minute of normal time Kavanagh flashed a shot over the bar from 18 yards. But ultimately the result will probably please Laws more than the performance and Wednesday will now look forward to a tough game at home against Crystal Palace on Easter Saturday to further their battle to avoid the drop.

Owls (4-4-2): Grant; Hinds, Beevers, Wood, Spurr; Songo'o (O'Brien 65), McAllister, Kavanagh, Small; Burton (Bolder 84), Tudgay (Showunmi 77).

Subs not used: Burch, Gilbert.

Booked: Songo'o, Grant, Spurr, McAllister.

Coventry (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Osbourne, Ward, Dann, Fox; Hughes, Doyle (Simpson 61), Tabb; Mifsud, Best, Thornton.

Subs not used: Marshall, Hall, Andrews, Gray.

Booked: Ward (foul)

Attendance: 19,283 (2,778 away supporters)