City: Simonsen, Halls, Hoefkens, Taggart, Broomes, Chadwick, Junior (Henry, 90), Brammer, Kolar (Harper, 72), Russell (Buxton, 13), Sidibe.Subs (not used): De Goey, Dyer.

Sheffield Wednesday: Lucas, Simek, Lee, Wood, Hills, Eagles (Partridge, 78), Rocastle, Wheelan, Brunt, Peacock, Best (Proudlock, 73).Subs (not used): Adams, Heckingbotom, O'Brien.

City opened their campaign with a goalless draw against newly-promoted Sheffield Wednesday.

Absent supporters might think the scoreline represents little change from last season, but they would be mistaken.

It masked the drama of a sending-off and a missed penalty by City and also a distinct change in the style of play under Johan Boskamp.

City clearly had the intention of playing a passing game but had to play for most of the ninety minutes with ten men following the sending-off of Gerry Taggart.  Yet, despite this setback, the side could and should have won when they were awarded a penalty with a quarter of an hour to go, but substitute Kevin Harper shot over the bar.

They welcomed six of their summer signings into the starting eleven, but captain Michael Duberry was ruled out by injury.

The formation, with Junior and Dave Brammer playing the holding roles in midfield and Luke Chadwick, Darel Russell and Martin Kolar in more advanced postions behind Mamady Sidibe, started promisingly, with some neat attacks down the left. They forced a couple of corners after good build-up play, but after twelve minutes they were forced to regroup when Gerry Taggart was sent off for a tackle on Leon Best.

The challenge was certainly late, but owed more to lack of pace than malicious intent.  Referee Mark Clattenburg, not known for his reticence in imposing his authority, immediately pulled out the red card when in the opinion of most, including the opposition manager, a yellow would have probably been more appropriate.

Darel Russell was immediately substituted to allow Lewis Buxton to come on at full back and Marlon Broomes to move into the centre of defence as the formation changed to 4-4-1.

The setback put City on the back foot for a time, with the Owls Chris Eagles somehow failing to score from a cross from the left when presented with an open goal.

City gradually regained their control and just after the half-hour mark Carl Hoefkens almost marked his debut with a goal when he timed his run into the penalty area perfectly to meet Brammers's free-kick. Unfortunately, just like Junior's previous effort from Sidibe's cross, the ball whistled over the bar.

Brammer was looking comfortable and confident in midfield and Sidibe was showing good control in his link-up play as well as plenty of effort. City's new striker was almost rewarded with a goal when he met Buxton's left-wing cross, but again the header went over the bar when he should really have hit the target.

Although the Owls did not pose a great threat, even with the extra man, they should have gone into half-time one up, but again Eagles spurned a golden opportunity just before the break.

City started the second half continuing to pass and move well, but without producing a clear-cut chance, and as the game began to open up, Chris Brunt's free-kick from the right was deflected for a corner by Steve Simonsen.  The visitors, attacking the massed ranks of their fans, were now more positive, and an overhead kick from Best was deflected into the net by the off-side Peacock as the City defence heaved a sigh of relief.

City's players continued to overcome their numerical handicap, but despite the hard work of Sidibe, ploughing a lone furrow up front in the face of some rough treatment by the Owls' central defenders, a goal proved elusive.

Kevin Harper came on for Kolar with eighteen minutes to go and almost immediately had the chance to put City ahead from the penalty spot, after Hoefken's surging run into the penalty area was ended by Hills' scything tackle.

Unfortunately, he ballooned the penalty high over the bar.  It was a bad miss, and the fans were left wondering why a player who had hardly had a touch of the ball took the spot-kick, but there was certainly no rush to volunteer from the other players in the absence of last season's penalty-takers.

That was City's best and last chance to gain some reward for their determination and effort with Peacock going close for the visitors in the dying stages.

Yet, despite the disappointment, there was much for the Potters to take from the match.

Sidibe in particular, despite his first-half miss, had an impressive first match in City's colours, whilst Hoefkens and Broome looked solid at the back.  John Halls showed some excellent touches and he and Brammer should benefit from the manager's clear desire to pass the ball through midfield.  Kolar and Junior did well before the pace of the game caught up with them deep into the second half, whilst Chadwick made a good contribution on the right.

It's just a pity that their efforts and skill did not bring the three points they deserved.

Bob James