Esbjerg-FCK 0-0

F.C. Copenhagen drew 0-0 in Esbjerg in the first SAS League-game after the winterbreak. The champions dominated most of the game, especially after Esbjerg were reduced to 10 men, but the chances were few - and missed...

It took a quarter for the guests to produce their first goalattempt, when Ailton headed straight at Esbjerg-keeper Lars Winde following a long throw-in from Niclas Jensen. This was the signal to a period with Copenhagen-dominance, while Esbjerg struggled to produce chances. Fredrik Berglund, who played for Esbjerg until last summer, was provided with a very fine chance after 27 minuter, when he intercepted a misstimed backpass from his former teammate Nicolai Høgh, but Lars Winde managed to block his effort.

Michael Silberbauer replaced the injured Linderoth in central midfield

Towards the end of the half, the game was more even and not very entertaining. This picture was the same after the break, although there was some drama when in a counter-attack Demba-Nyrén tried to get past Michael Gravgaard, who clearly had his hand on the ball, but the referee waved play on.

After 66 minutes Demba himself got his second foolish booking, and then it was off to the dressing rooms. The first was given for protests, and the second for kicking the ball away after the whistle had gone for offside - and more protests...

From then it was a one-way-game, but Copenhagen could not take advantage of the situation, and Esbjerg were well-organized and concentrated on the defensive works. Berglund had the biggest chance after 75 minutes, but he hesitated a bit too long and was tackled. Eventually it ended goalless, and after all Ståle Solbakken was satisfied with his teams performance. Hen can find further comfort in the fact that neither FC Midtjylland nor Odense managed to win at home. The standing in the top of the table - a 6 point lead over Midtjylland - is therefore the same before the last 14 rounds.

Saluting the many loyal supporters, who had travelled to Esbjerg this Sunday

All photos by Carl Redhead 

Matchfacts:
ESBJERG-F.C. COPENHAGEN 0-0
Attendance: 13.487

F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen – Lars Jacobsen, Brede Hangeland, Michael Gravgaard, Niclas Jensen – Atiba Hutchinson, Michael Silberbauer (59.: William Kvist), Hjalte Nørregaard, Jesper Grønkjær – Ailton Almeida, Fredrik Berglund. (Un-used substitutes: Oscar Wendt, Razak Pimpong, Jeppe Brandrup, Thomas Villadsen)

Bookings: Michael Silberbauer and Jesper Grønkjær, FCK
Sent-off: Njogu Demba-Norén, Esbjerg