Bluebirds hold Blades

Cardiff City maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a hard fought goalless draw with Sheffield United.

Goalless draw at Bramall Lane

Cardiff City maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a hard fought goalless draw with Sheffield United. The Blades pushed hard in the second half at Bramall Lane - but they could not find a way through against Dave Jones's well-marshalled Bluebirds. United signalled their intent early on as Greg Halford flashed a shot wide of Tom Heaton's right-hand post after just three minutes. Scottish striker Ross McCormack, who has netted four goals already this season, looked lively in the early exchanges and poked a shot wide after outpacing Ugo Ehiogu as the visitors looked to exert some pressure. United's strikeforce combined to great effect midway through the first half and only a woeful finish from Darius Henderson prevented them from taking the lead. After seeing off the attention of his marker, Billy Sharp chipped a teasing cross to the edge of the six-yard box from where Henderson sent his header agonisingly wide of the left-hand post. The Blades were nearly made to pay for their profligacy just a minute later when Joe Ledley's volley went away from Paddy Kenny's far post before Bothroyd fired into the arms of Kenny when it looked easier to score. United started the second period in thunderous fashion and Ehiogu saw his header loop just over the crossbar after Halford launched an enormous throw into the area. The closest the visitors came to breaking the deadlock in the early stages of the second period was through Ledley's low 25-yard shot which Kenny collected comfortably. David Cotterill's introduction midway through the second period brought with it an injection of dynamism and it was his penetrating runs down the right which looked the most likely source of the opening goal for the hosts. The potent attacking threat offered by the visitors in the opening period had all but evaporated and it was left entirely to the Blades to push for a winner. They might well have had it from the penalty spot had the referee not waved away furious appeals from United after Henderson collapsed in the area following a challenge from Darren Purse. Beattie's late introduction sparked a mini-revival in United but for all their pressing they were unable to test Heaton with anything other than a series of high crosses in the closing stages.