West Brom 0 West Ham 0 - Report and pictures

Hammers midfielder Pedro Obiang came the closest to breaking the deadlock with an audacious long-range effort which hit the bar.

Jose Fonte also headed narrowly wide for the visitors, who created the better of the chances.

James Morrison headed the Baggies best attempt wide as Hammers keeper Joe Hart ended the game without being seriously tested.

Analysis

The afternoon did at least see a bit of history, as Albion midfielder Gareth Barry equal Ryan Giggs’s Premier League appearance record.

But the 36-year-old’s 632nd top flight outing is not one which will live long in the memory.

Obiang’s audacious attempt, from more than 40 yards out, was not in keeping with a match which rarely threatened to spark.

Albion did not muster an attempt on target until the closing minutes when substitute Hal Robson-Kanu headed straight at Hart.

West Ham were able to create the better of what chances there were and on another day might have played the final quarter against ten men, when Albion keeper Ben Foster brought down Javier Hernandez outside the box.

Referee Paul Tierney opted to show Foster only a yellow card due to the presence of two covering defenders.

That was at least one bright spot for the Baggies on an afternoon when they huffed and puffed to no great effect.

Having won their opening two league games, Tony Pulis’s men have now taken just two points from the next three.

They remain a tough nut to crack but lack attacking flair, even though this was the first game in which they have failed to score.

Much of the pre-game focus had centred around Barry, who duly kept his place in Albion’s starting line-up for the fourth consecutive Premier League.

There were three changes, however, from the team beaten 3-1 at Brighton last time out.

They included a full Baggies debut for left-back Kieran Gibbs, while Chris Brunt and James Morrison were also restored to the starting line-up.

Allan Nyom and Salomon Rondon both dropped to the bench, while Jake Livermore missed out entirely after agreeing to be rested.

The visitors, who had earned their first win of the campaign earlier in the week by beating Huddersfield, fashioned the first opening.

Pablo Zabaleta’s ball from the right sailed over the head of Jonny Evans and just for a moment it looked as though Hammers striker Andy Carroll would have a clear sight at goal.

But Evans’s defensive partner Ahmed Hegazi was alert to cover and dispossess Carroll before he could pull the trigger.

The first effort on goal came from debutant Gibbs, who saw his close range effort blocked after arriving at the far post.

Barry rose to meet Matt Phillips’s corner delivery and watched the ball deflect off a West Ham boot and narrowly over the bar.

That was as far as Albion’s attacking efforts went in the opening half-hour.

Instead it was the visitors who gradually grew more into the game, almost taking the lead through Obiang’s audacious long-range effort.

The midfielder was level with the edge of the centre-circle when, spotting Foster off his line, he launched a shot over a crowd of players and the keeper which then crashed off the top of the crossbar. It was a moment not in keeping with a first half which lacked fizz.

Carroll fired over from the edge of the box as the visitors enjoyed a bright spell.

Albion, however, will feel they should have taken the lead when Phillips’s driving run opened up the visiting defence but Morrison, eight yards out, was unable to direct the cross on target.

Phillips then fired wide from the edge of the box as half-time approached.

The start to the second period was almost calamitous for Albion as, with West Ham attacking, Hegazi’s attempted clearance hit Evans and flew back over the crossbar. Jose Fonte headed narrowly wide from the resulting corner.

The atmosphere was becoming increasingly irritable. West Ham were furious when Albion opted to play on when substitute Marko Arnautovic went down injured.

Their displeasure was then further heightened when referee Tierney opted to show Foster a yellow card, rather than red, after the keeper clattered into Hernandez outside the box.

Albion’s keeper had been beaten to the ball by the Hammers striker and only the presence of two covering defenders saved him from an early bath.

Pulis introduced Robson-Kanu, who had missed the previous three games through suspension, from the bench.

The striker managed Albion’s first effort on target late on, with a header which was easy for Hart.

Key Moments

28 - West Ham’s Pedro Obiang hits the bar with an audacious attempt from more than 40 yards out.

37 - James Morrison heads wide from eight yards out, after Phillips’s penetrating run.

65 - Foster is shown a yellow card after bringing down Javier Hernandez outside the box. Two covering defenders save the Baggies keeper from a red.

Teams

Albion (4-2-3-1): Foster, Dawson, Evans, Hegazi, Gibbs (Nyom 84), Krychowiak, Barry, Phillips (McClean 76), Morrison, Brunt (Robson-Kanu 72), Rodriguez Subs not used: Yacob, Rondon, McAuley, Myhill (gk).

West Ham (3-4-3): Hart, Fonte, Reid, Collins (Arnautovic 58), Zabaleta, Kouyate, Obiang, Cresswell, Antonio, Hernandez (Ayew 76), Carroll (Sakho 82) Subs not used: Ogbonna, Masuaku, Rice, Adrian (gk).