BRISTOL CITY 0, SHEFFIELD UNITED 0

PADDY Kenny frustrated City's revenge bid on a night of near misses at Ashton Gate.

Desperate to erase memories of this month's 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Blades at Bramall Lane, City did enough to take all three points in a pulsating second half.

But they were ultimately denied by Kenny's brilliance,the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper pulling off a wonder save to deny Robins forward Lee Trundle after the break.

The scouser appeared odds on to score when Kenny could only parry Lee Johnson's fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area.

But Kenny somehow managed to make his ground and keep out Trundle's close-range effort with his left hand.

Dominant in the first half, the visitors defended valliantly in the second period and were worth a point.

Although they failed to score in front of their own fans, City can at least take solace in another stout defensive display.

A fourth consecutive clean sheet means the Robins go into Saturday's home clash with Reading unbeaten in four games and with the Championship's leading pack still very much in their sights.

City boss Gary Johnson made an enforced change in defence, the versatile Brian Wilson switching to left-back in place of the injured Jamie McAllister to accommodate the return of right-back Bradley Orr following a one-match suspension.

Kevin Blackwell adopted a bold 4-3-3 formation and sent his side out with orders to entertain. They certainly enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, loan signing Anthony Stokes testing Adriano Basso with a rasping drive and Stephen Quinn firing over from a free kick 20 yards out.

Forced to rely upon sporadic counter attacks, the Robins finally gave their supporters something to cheer when Dele Adebola turned the ball across the 18 yard box and Chris Morgan hacked away as far as Lee Johnson. City's diminutive midfield played it back into the danger zone, only for Ugo Ehiogu to effect a last-ditch clearance before Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe could react.

But the better chances continued to materialise at the other end and the Blades should have taken the lead on 25 minutes. City's defence was caught napping and Sunderland striker Stokes found himself clean through and with only Basso to beat.

The Brazilian goalkeeper stood his ground and pulled off a startling one-handed save to turn the forward's angled shot behind for a corner. When the home side failed to pick up James Beattie from the resultant flag kick, Basso went full-length to deny the former England star.

Relatively subdued up until this point, City sensed an opportunity to make an impression in the final third when Trundle was hauled down by Quinn on the edge of the penalty area. But Wilson's free kick had spectators at the back of the Wedlock Stand scurrying for cover.

Beattie did rather better with a free kick from a similar position moments later, forcing Basso to fall to his right and gather at the second attempt.

City finally created a goal-scoring opportunity worthy of the name five minutes before the break. Johnson burst into the 18 yard box and spooned the ball up towards the far post where Adebola rose unchallenged, only to steer his header over the bar.

And City came even closer to breaking the deadlock three minutes into the second half. Irish keeper Paddy Kenny could only parry Johnson's powerful shot and Trundle looked certain to score as he seized upon the loose ball. But Kenny somehow managed to get a hand to the scouser's close-range shot and keep the ball out, much to the dismay of supporters in the Atyeo Stand.

Gavin Williams then directed a glancing header straight at United's keeper and Marvin Elliott sent a fierce drive flashing inches wide of the upright as City built a head of steam, causing the visitors to resort to desperate defence for the first time.

Deployed in a more central position in the second half, Trundle was now finding time and space in which to weave his magic and Yorkshire hearts were in mouths when he guided a deft side-footed shot across the face of goal.

Robins manager Johnson introduced loan signing Stern John on the hour and the Trinidad & Tobago striker thought he had set-up the first goal when McIndoe seized upon his downward header to bundle the ball over the line from close range. But cheers quickly turned to jeers as a linesman's raised flag ruled the Scot offside.

Forced to concede ground, the Blades posed only a sporadic threat on the break. From one such counter, they earned a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and Beattie's goal-bound effort was brilliantly turned aside by Basso.

City felt they should have had a penalty 11 minutes from time when Blades defender Ugo Ehiogu appeared to handle the ball under pressure from John inside the six yard box.

John, his teammates and the crowd behind the goal appealed vehemently, only for referee Rob Styles to ignore their claims.

Bristol City (4-5-1): Basso; Orr, McCombe, Fontaine, Wilson; Trundle (sub Sproule, 68), Elliott, Williams (sub Maynard 85), Johnson, McIndoe; Adebola (sub John 60).

Sheffield United (4-3-3): Kenny; Naughton, Morgan, Ehiogu, Jihai; Spring, Quinn, Howard; Webber (sub Dyer 90); Beattie, Stokes (sub Jalford 79).

Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)

Attendance: 16,798