CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Coventry v Sheff Weds 26/10/96 3.00

Coventry                (0) 0 Sheff Weds              (0) 0 FT

Coventry manager Ron Atkinson's adventurous policy failed to solve his side's goal-scoring problems in another disappointing clash of few clear-cut chances at Highfield Road.

Atkinson had been expected to axe the out-of-form Noel Whelan but instead opted to play three in attack with Peter Ndlovu brought in for his first start of the campaign.

But it made no difference and Owls 'keeper Kevin Pressman was called upon to make only one save worthy of the name to leave Coventry with only four goals to show from 11 Premiership games this season.

With Pressman's counterpart Steve Ogrizovic also only tested seriously twice, there was little for either set of fans to enthuse about as both sides lacked the required creativity.

Wednesday will have more reason to be satisfied after collecting only one point from their six previous games and newcomer Benito Carbone showed a few touches of class, although his desire to play-act when tackled angered the home supporters.

Coventry look set for a long hard battle to avoid relegation unless they find the killer touch and the final whistle was greeted with cries of ``what a load of rubbish'' from the home crowd.

Wednesday made a positive start with Carbone in the thick of the action and they should have taken the lead in the 16th minute.

Regi Blinker released Ian Nolan down the left flank and his centre picked out leading scorer Andy Booth at the far post but the £2.7million capture from Huddersfield directed his header into the side netting when it looked easier to score.

The in-form John Salako found plenty of space on the left flank but the home side still struggled to find a way through the Owls defence for all Atkinson's attacking intentions.

However, Wednesday needed a splendid save from Kevin Pressman to prevent the side who went into the game with the worst scoring record in the Premier League four goals in 10 matches from taking a 43rd minute lead.

Dion Dublin's header from Salako's centre looked destined for the top corner of the net until Pressman flung himself across goal to fingertip the ball away for a corner.

Ogrizovic showed he has lost none of his quality at the age of 39 as he pulled off a brilliant save to deny Mark Pembridge in the 53rd minute.

The Welsh international's shot took a wicked deflection off Liam Daish to wrongfoot Ogrizovic but he was still able to adjust and turn the shot for a corner.

Ndlovu had a quiet afternoon in his first start of the campaign and, after making a good run to latch onto a Salako free-kick, he sent his header over the bar.

Coventry skipper Gary McAllister then picked out Dublin 15 yards out but he tried to side-foot his shot into the corner and Pressman had little difficulty in saving away to his left.

When Dublin then volleyed Paul Telefer's centre over the bar with five minutes remaining, Coventry knew it was not going to be their day.