Town and Sheffield United played out a 0-0 draw of the more exciting kind at Bramall Lane this afternoon. Both defences impressed in a game which improved as it went along with the last fifteen minutes end-to-end with either side having chances to win it.

Joe Royle lined his side up in the 3-5-2 formation he did against Middlesbrough on Wednesday, but changing the personnel. Back came Andy Marshall in goal with Matt Holland and Jim Magilton returning to the centre of midfield with Jamie Clapham.

Chris Makin moved to right wing-back with Hermann Hreidarsson continuing on the other flank. The defensive three were Mark Venus, Thomas Gaardsøe and John McGreal. Up front Alun Armstrong returned to play alongside Darren Bent. Surprisingly Darren Ambrose was left on the bench

The Blades had the best of the early exchanges although Armstrong did chase a long ball forward and collide with Kenny in the United goal. After treatment the striekr continued.

On 10 Darren Bent hit a shot which went by the post from a Hreidarsson cross from the left.

In the 12th minute Mark Venus intercepted Peschisolido's pass towards Allison with the striker in a dangerous position. Venus's central defending compatriot John McGreal took the ball forward shortly afterwards and hit an uncharacteristic shot over the bar.

Andy Marshall got his first action of the game on 25, doing well to get to a looping Peschisolido header after sub Ten Heuvel (on for Allison) had caused problems in the air.

Town went straight up the other end and Darren Bent hit a shot on the turn which went by the post.

There was a major scare for Town on 26 as Mark Venus slipped, giving the ball to Peschisolido. The Canadian had the simple task of putting the ball over to the unmarked Ten Heuvel but Gaardsøe somehow managed to get his foot in the way. It was a very important interception.

Darren Bent ran onto a through ball in the 32nd minute and chased into the area before unleashing a shot which beat Kenny but cannoned off his post away from Matt Holland in the box.

Town were in the ascendant after the Blades' better start, but the home side were still having chances, McGreal putting Holland in trouble and Ten Heuvel slipping in a ball to Peschisolido. However the Canadian failed to get the ball under control and it ran to Marshall.

Chris Makin's name went into the book on 44 for a foul on Tonge when he had appeared to get the ball, a point of view disagreed with by Dermot Gallagher.

It took five minutes for the first chance of the second half, Jim Magilton hitting a shot from 20 yards which was easy for Kenny. At the other end Ten Heuvel headed a Harley cross over the bar when free in the area.

Town were getting forward but not in enough numbers. On 54 Hermann Hreidarsson failed to take a shot when well placed on the edge of the area, the Icelander perhaps not trusting his right foot.

John McGreal became the second Town player in the book two minutes later for a foul on Ndlovu after the Zimbabwean had beaten him for pace down the Town right. Two minutes later Ndlovu took advantage of hesitancy between Holland and Makin but hit his shot across the face of Andy Marshall's goal.

Just before the hour Joe Royle brought on Finidi George and Fabian Wilnis for Armstrong and Makin and the subs were quickly in the action, Finidi getting to the byline and crashing painfully against a hoarding.

In the 64th minute Shaun Murphy headed wide from a Jagielka corner when he will have felt he should have done better. For Town, Magilton curled a freekick well over the bar after Finidi had been fouled.

A Mark Venus corner in the 66th minute looped in to Finidi who had a free header but sent it too close to Kenny who saved to his right. Jagielka hit a shot wide as play moved quickly from end-to-end.

With 15 minutes left a Hreidarsson cross caused havoc in the Blades' defence, the ball cannoning off Harley but to one of his own players and safety.

Town's best chance of the second half fell to Darren Bent in the 77th minute. Bent got on the end of a Finidi cross from the right but the youngster took too long over it and a defender toed the ball back to his keeper who picked the ball up, surprisingly not given as a pass-back by the referee.

A Town goal looked the more likely, although the twin threats of subs Asaba and Ten Heuvel were always a danger in the air. Magilton hit a shot wide with ten minutes left on the clock while Murphy again ought to have done better with a header from an Ndlovu chipped cross.

Hreidarsson, practically playing up front towards the end, twice hit a shot on 85, the ball first cannoning back to him off a defender and his second strike saved by Kenny.

As the game ended Murphy headed goalwards but it was easy to Marshall and referee Gallagher blew his whistle.

An entertaining 0-0 which could have been won by either side. The Town backline was largely solid with Gaardsøe particularly effective in the middle of the three. The Blues competed well in the midfield but, like their opponents, seemed to run out of ideas at the edge of the area while Darren Bent will rue not taking his late chance first time.

Bramall Lane is never an easy place to come to and a goalless draw, given current circumstances, should by no means be seen as a bad result.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls