Yorkshire | Sheffield United held by Birmingham City

Sheffield United 0 - 0 Birmingham City

Birmingham City maintained their solid away start to the new season as they battled to a draw with Sheffield United 

Author | Tom Parker

Stadium | Bramall Lane

For a goalless draw, it was not actually a bad game, with both sides involved in a fiercely competitive contest as Blues once again showed their determination to be difficult to beat on the road.

But for all the oohs and ahhs, particularly when Blues left-back Alex Cochrane was getting forward down the flank, there was precious little in the way of genuine goal threat.

View from the stands at Bramall Lane

Indeed, before the break, neither side had managed a single effort on target.

Carlos Vicente and Cochrane both saw powerful goalbound efforts blocked, while Bright Osayi-Samuel curled a low effort just wide.

The visitors should have taken the lead

Jhon Solis split the Blades defence to release Vicente, but the Spaniard unselfishly, and ultimately mistakenly, tried to square the ball for August Priske, allowing Japhet Tanganga to recover and make the interception.

Birmingham City fans in the away end

It took until the 71st minute for the Blades to register anything remotely resembling an effort on target, before the best chance of the game finally arrived.

Bamford, so often clinical in such situations, was played clean through down the inside-right channel but was denied by Beadle at his near post. The result confirmed Birmingham's first goalless draw since February, while United had not been involved in one since November.