Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City played out a goalless draw in their FA Cup fifth round tie at Hillsborough, meaning the teams must now lock horns once again in a replay at the Liberty Stadium, a match which will definitely decide who ventures through to the quarter-finals.
Carlos Carvalhal made his first return to his former stomping ground since he was axed by Wednesday on Christmas Eve. The Portuguese coach surprisingly entered back into management a few days after his Owls departure, signing a contract with Premier League strugglers Swansea, who he's since unexpectedly gone on to enjoy great success with.
However, he was unable to taste victory over his former side in the FA Cup, as he now invites them back to the home of his new employers for an FA Cup replay - Wednesday's second replay of this season's competition.
Both managers opted to make six changes apiece, with Carvalhal prioritising Premier League survival, stating:
"Ask me to stay in the Premier League or win the cup, and I say Premier League because it is more important to the club”.
His Swansea side experienced a sluggish start to the game as Wednesday came close to storming into an early lead, only for Adam Reach to be denied by Swans goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordeldt. The Swans were sluggish in the opening stages with Owls shot-stopper Cameron Dawson merely a bystander to the action in front of him.
However, the visitors improved as the half wore on, and Tammy Abraham was perhaps unfortunate not to win a penalty after Daniel Pudil shoved him in the back, while Dawson produced a cracking save from Mike van der Hoorn.
As the second-half got back under way it was Wednesday who again made the better start, firing a number of threatening crosses into the Swans boss. The introduction of Jordan Ayew in the 67th minute jolted Carvalhal's men into life, but as the game reached the closing stages the hosts really should have nicked it, however Adam Reach's low cross to Lucas Joao was well thwarted by Kyle Bartley.
Should the Swans go on to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals it will be their first appearance at this stage since 1964, while victory for Wednesday will see the club progress through to the last-8 for the first time since 1996/97.
