Report: B.McAuilffe, Photo: Wayne Crichton

Snap-shot: Cardiff took a difficult point from Bramall Lane on Saturday, holding promotion tipped Sheffield United to a goalless draw - and in the process picking up their first clean sheet of the season.

Chances were limited in the steel city, although in all honesty the better of them came to our hosts. In each half Henderson and Quinn will rue not taking advantage when the goal was theirs for the taking, while at the other end Ledley and McCormack came close for the travelling Bluebirds.

Team News: Kevin McNaughton returned to the Cardiff eleven following a short spell on the sidelines through injury. With numbers out injured, a look at the team-sheet indicated that Miguel Comminges would start at left-back, Joe Ledley in the middle next to McPhail, while both midfield flanks were comprised of Paul Parry and Peter Whittingham. Up-front the partnership of Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack were selected to start.

Kevin Blackwell reverted back to the starting XI that beat Blackpool last weekend, which meant Chris Morgan had to be content with a place on the bench alongside James Beattie.

Cardiff City: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse, R. Johnson, Comminges, Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley, Parry, Bothroyd, McCormack. Subs: Enckelman, Gyepes, E. Johnson, Thompson, Blake.

Sheffield United: Kenny, Halford, Naysmith, Kilgallon, Henderson, Sun, Speed, Tonge, Sharp, Quinn, Ehiogu. Subs: Cotterill, Morgan, Beattie, Webber, Spring

Chronological Report: In a packed Bramall Lane due to reduced ticket prices for all, weather conditions in Sheffield were welcoming for the visiting City faithful, with sunshine almost over the whole pitch for the opening. The Bluebirds kicked-off facing the kop end.

Without too much penalty area action in the opening twenty minutes, the first moment of note came for City after six minutes as Paul Parry jinked into the area, though his shot on goal was blocked by the Blades defence for a corner. At the other end the main danger looked to be coming through the diminutive threat of Billy Sharp, who minutes later gave Darren Purse the job of blocking the way through.

Jay Bothroyd looked to be playing slightly deeper than McCormack, and impressed with his ability to bring the ball down to link play and hold the ball - but while City held more of the ball, entry into the final third was limited.

After waiting for goalmouth action we were presented with two huge chances in the space of a minute. First it was Sheffield with Sharp beating Johnson to cross, and Henderson somehow missing a six yard header as he beat Purse and McNaughton to climb highest and direct the ball wide. With the Blades still wondering how they hadn't gone ahead, Joe Ledley from the goal-kick could have opened the scoring for the visitors - the shot missing the target by the same short margin.

The action was intensifying and Cardiff could have scored again in the twenty seventh minute as Parry and McCormack presented a chance for Bothroyd, though his low shot was directed too close to Kenny's feet to open his Cardiff account.

Action was halted slightly just after the half hour as Sun Jihai clashed with Bothroyd in a challenge, which resulted in the front-man having to leave the field for stitches, returning just under five minutes later with a numberless shirt.

The match was being played at quite a high intensity through midfield, but the majority of credit had to go to both defensive units as chances and shots were denied at both ends in last gasp challenges.

Three minutes of added time were allotted, but no way through could be found to break the deadlock. Overall more composure in providing the final ball, plus a killer touch would be needed from either team in the second half if goals were to be found.

HALF TIME: SHEFFIELD UTD 0 - 0 CARDIFF CITY

No changes were made at half time, with the only change being the sun going missing, making way for grey skies above. The Blades had the upper hand in the opening five minutes, coming out the stronger and pinning Cardiff back - but again without entering the eighteen yards that matter.

The packed Bramall Lane stadium, at least the home support, aimed to lift the Blades into producing something to ensure high attendances without the need to reduce prices. 29,226 fans were confirmed over the tannoy; though the home side were defensively called into action through former Welsh skipper Speed to deny Joe Ledley's effort.

The match was again halted as Ehiogu and Roger Johnson clashed heads in a touch challenge. Ehiogu came out the better, needing less attention than Roger who had to leave the field temporarily as doctor Len Nokes checked over the central defender.

After initially being more defensive, Cardiff began to assert themselves in the second half, mainly through the combination play of Ledley and Parry. Sheffield then after sixty eight minutes made the first change bringing on Welsh International David Cotterill for Greg Halford.

The match battle continued without a goal looking likely as Cardiff and Sheffield cancelled each other out - a point highlighted by Speed's skyward shot with ten minutes left. The home crowd were then heartened by the 2008/09 introduction of James beattie after injury, coming on for Sharp up front.

United were on the front foot quickly, with the home support at the fact that Johnson's challenge on Henderson didn't result in a penalty, although the connection from the City man looked clear. The Blades at this point had the majority of the ball, with play predominantly taking place in the Cardiff half with City pinned back. Cardiff then made a change to personnel with five minutes left, introducing Eddie Johnson for Jay Bothroyd in attack.

With regular time running out United had a huge chance to get the much sought after goal through a rare McPhail error. The Cardiff City vice captain uncharacteristically gave the ball away in the middle of the park, and with his team-mates caught flat footed Steve Quinn raced forward towards Heaton, looking a certainty to score. Under pressure from Purse however, somehow Quinn missed the target.

Five minutes of added time were allocated due to the treatment time in the second half. Both teams then made a striker change with Danny Webber replacing Tonge and Steve Thompson coming on for McCormack.

A few late skirmishes aside, the match was destined to end goalless. All in all with the injuries and the credentials of Sheffield, the draw was a fair point worth taking, ensuring the unbeaten run continues - this time with a clean sheet in a difficult venue.

FULL TIME: SHEFFIELD UTD 0 - 0 CARDIFF

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Jihai, Kilgallon, Ehiogu, Naysmith, Halford (Cotterill 68), Speed, Tonge (Webber 90), Quinn, Sharp (Beattie 81), Henderson. Subs Not Used: Morgan, Spring.

Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse, Comminges, Roger Johnson, Ledley, McPhail, Parry, Whittingham, Bothroyd (Eddie Johnson 86), McCormack (Thompson 90). Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Blake.

Att: 29,226

Ref: Colin Webster