THE fact that Shwan Jalal was named man of the match told its own story.

Cherries needed their influential goalkeeper to be on top form as they were made to battle hard to preserve their unbeaten record under the management of Lee Bradbury to earn a point from a goalless draw.

So formidable at Dean Court throughout their excellent League One campaign, the high-flying Dorset outfit did not have things all their own way tonight, particularly in the first half.

Solid in defence but lacking their usual verve and creativity in attack, Cherries struggled to make an impression in the opening period. And once they did find their feet in the second 45 minutes, they were frustrated by an organised and energetic Wednesday side that looked nothing like the out-of-form team the statistics might have suggested.

Although Bradbury was pleased to see his side extend to eight their run of games without defeat since he took charge, the outcome could have been even better after Cherries threatened to pile more misery on the Owls in the closing stages.

Despite struggling to dominate the visitors for much of the match, it was Cherries who could lay claim to having the best opportunities to take maximum points.

In-form frontman Michael Symes missed from the penalty spot before Shaun Cooper rattled the post with a curling 25-yard effort.

But a Cherries winner, although looking the most likely outcome as the final whistle approached, would have been tough on Gary Megson’s side, who deservedly halted their long run of losses on the road.

Boss Bradbury named the same side that drew against Huddersfield, while the struggling visitors made six changes.

Wednesday, promotion challengers at one stage this season, have fallen down the table rapidly following a dreadful run of results.

Former Premier League boss Megson is now the man in the Owls dugout and, regardless of what the form guides might have indicated prior to the game, he would have been the happier of the two bosses at the interval.

Despite arriving in Dorset on the back on seven consecutive away league defeats, the Owls looked like high-fliers as they came storming out of the traps.

They should have been ahead within five minutes but midfielder Isaiah Osbourne directed his shot too close to Jalal when latching on to a loose ball six yards out.

Given that they were without a third tier victory in nine attempts, spectators could have been forgiven for expecting Wednesday to make a cagey start.

But Megson’s men looked confident enough and gave Cherries a couple of scares from a series of inswinging corners.

The hosts threatened to demonstrate their best form, although it took 24 minutes for them to produce their first move of note.

Anton Robinson and Danny Ings combined well to release Marc Pugh 20 yards from goal, but the former Hereford star’s shot was straight at Nicky Weaver in the Owls goal.

On 37 minutes, Weaver was forced into his first serious save. Unfortunately for Cherries, it was a comfortable one after Ings’s shot arrived at a nice height following Adam Smith’s superb surging run.

Cherries fans hoping for better in the second period were almost given a nasty surprise within 30 seconds of the restart, but Jalal was at his best to tip over Liam Palmer’s stinging drive.

But the hosts were gifted a golden opportunity to open the scoring when Reda Johnson clattered into Symes on 53 minutes.

With Cherries’ frontman looking to take a Liam Feeney cross on his chest, the Owls defender barged his opposite number and referee Graham Horwood had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

But Symes, in such fine goal-scoring form in recent weeks, fired agonisingly wide after sending Weaver the wrong way.

Wednesday were again left to rue the quality of Jalal as he kept his team on level terms in the 62nd minute with a superb save, getting down well to brilliantly deny Tommy Miller with a one-handed parry.

At the opposite end, Weaver was alert to claw away a Wiggins cross. But the Wednesday keeper had no answer when Cooper met a short corner 25 yards out, but he was relieved to see the centre-half’s fine curler cannon back off the woodwork.

Spurred on by this near miss, Cherries gradually began to show signs of improvement.

Jalal again got down well to save from Chris Sedgwick, before Bradbury opted to freshen up his frontline with his side now in the ascendancy and looking to push for a winner.

He went for a combination of youth and experience by calling on rookie Jayden Stockley and veteran player-assistant boss Steve Fletcher.

But there was no late drama on this occasion as neither side seriously threatened, with defences dominant in the closing stages and a draw a fair result.

Cherries: (4-4-2) Jalal 8*; Smith 7, Cooper 7, Pearce 7.5, Wiggins 7; Feeney 6.5, Robinson 7, Hollands 6.5, Pugh 6 (Arter, 90); Symes 6 (Fletcher, 79), Ings 6 (Stockley, 79). Unused subs: Purches, Partington, Baudry, Stewart (g/k).

Booked: Hollands

Wednesday: (4-5-1) Weaver; Hinds, Beevers, Johnson, Spurr; Teale, Osbourne, Miller, Palmer (O’Connor, 79), Sedgwick; Madine. Unused subs: Jones, C Morrison, Mellor, Heffernan, Potter, Jameson (g/k).

Booked: Johnson

Referee: Graham Horwood (Bedford)

Attendance: 7,268 (including 728 away supporters)