Mark Robins' side came away with a point from their match with Sheffield United after neither side could find the net at Bramall Lane this afternoon.
An end to end start to the match saw Callum O’Hare win the ball on the byline and break into the box, finding Viktor Gyökeres who couldn’t get his shot away before John Fleck fired wide from range at the other end.
Ben Sheaf then found space 25 yards out from goal and his well hit shot forced Blades’ keeper Wes Foderingham to dive across his goal and get a strong hand to put the ball away.
Sheaf then twisted in the box and managed to get a cross in, but Foderingham beat O’Hare to the ball as it went across the six-yard box.
City thought they were in when Sheaf’s well-timed pass played in Gyokeres, but he was pulled down by John Egan, the Irishman earning a yellow for his troubles, but from the resulting free kick Gus Hamer’s efforts went over the top of the bar.
Todd Kane produced the next danger for the Blades when his cross was scrambled away with Gyökeres lurking at the back post.
The Sky Blues then hit the home side on the counter after Conor Hourihane’s free kick was claimed by Simon Moore and the ‘keeper’s long kick found Fankaty Dabo who set up O’Hare, but his effort was blocked before Sheaf played in Kane, but his cross was cleared.
Enda Stevens then crossed the ball in but Kyle McFadzean did well to nick the ball away from Iliman Ndiaye with Dabo on hand to control.
A minute before the break Stevens then made some space on the edge of the box but his cross went comfortably wide of Moore’s goal.
As the Blades looked to start another attack Sheaf cleared the ball to O’Hare who flicked the ball past his man to set Jamie Allen on the counterattack.
The midfielder’s well-timed pass found Gyökeres out wide who turned Chris Basham to get into the box but his shot was blocked in the final meaningful action of the half.
HALF TIME: Sheffield United 0-0 Sky Blues
City had the first chance of the half when Foderingham needed to get down low to stop Gyökeres’ goal bound effort.
Jayden Bogle then managed to get an effort across goal that looked like it could sneak in but Moore was alert to any danger.
City pushed for an opener with Dabo’s cross picking out Gyökeres whose header landed in the path of O’Hare, but the midfielder couldn’t get a shot away as he was quickly surrounded by United players.
Matty Godden and Tyler Walker were introduced just after the hour mark with the former firing in a shot that was well saved by Foderingham after O’Hare played the striker in.
Hourihane then set up Morgan Gibbs White on the edge of the D but the Wolves loanee’s effort went just wide of Moore’s right-hand post.
Gibbs-White turned provider a minute later when he played the ball across the box to substitute David McGoldrick, but the forward blasted the ball over the bar.
The Blades’ pressure was building with Hourihane the next to have a shot, with effort from 30 yards out went wide of the post.
Walker won a free kick after he was fouled by Egan with Kane’s set piece being headed over for a corner.
A good touch by Walker to bring the ball under his control gave the Sky Blues another chance at goal but O’Hare’s low drive was stopped by Foderingham.
The lively Gibbs-White then teed up McGoldrick for a shot but the ball was caught in the mid-air by Moore.
McGoldrick was then played in over the top, but he couldn’t find the target with Moore bearing down on him.
Another strong save from Moore denied Gibbs-White again before McFadzean slid in to block another shot by the Blades’ number 27.
The Blades then fired another shot wide through Hourihane and with that the referee blew his whistle to give City a deserved point after a battling performance South Yorkshire
FULL TIME: Sheffield United 0-0 Sky Blues
CARDS: John Egan (21’), Jayden Bogle (30), Conor Hourihane (36’); Gus Hamer (30’), Callum O’Hare (52’)
ATTENDANCE: 28,075 (2,725 Away Fans)
Sky Blues XI: Simon Moore (GK), Fankaty Dabo, Michael Rose, Kyle McFadzean (C), Dom Hyam, Todd Kane, Jamie Allen, Ben Sheaf (Liam Kelly 75’), Gus Hamer (Matty Godden 63’), Callum O’Hare, Viktor Gyökeres (Tyler Walker 63’).
Unused Subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Jodi Jones, Jordan Shipley, Julien Dacosta.
Sheffield United XI: Wes Foderingham (GK), Chris Basham, John Egan, Ben Davies, Jayden Bogle, Conor Hourihane, John Fleck, Enda Stevens (Ben Osborn 85’), Morgan Gibbs-White, Iliman Ndiaye (David McGoldrick 46’), Billy Sharp (C).
Unused Subs: Michael Verrips (GK), Oliver Burke, Luke Freeman, Jack Robinson, Rhian Brewster.