Albion played out a second successive goalless Sky Bet Championship draw after a hotly-contested local clash with Birmingham City on Tuesday night.
The hosts certainly had the better opportunities to claim maximum points, with the two most notable ones coming in stoppage time.
August Priske had a goal ruled out as a result of Baggies goalkeeper Max O'Leary being obstructed on the line, before fellow substitute Carlos Vicente struck the post in the dying embers - meaning the Baggies left with a battling point to show for their courageous display.
A first 45 under the Birmingham lights saw both teams create moments which warranted an opening goal.
Blues went closest early doors when Paik Seung-Ho’s goal-bound header was stopped on the line following some careful improvisation from Callum Styles - allowing shot-stopper O’Leary to clear the danger.
This opportunity for the hosts came after Jayson Molumby had nodded another threatening ball over the target, but it’s not to say Albion didn’t have chances of their own.
Jed Wallace couldn’t force more out of opposition goalkeeper James Beadle when he forged a sight at the target, and good City defending inside the 18-yard box prevented the skipper from finding the top corner later on - blocking his shot and sending it wide of the left post.
The hosts forced their influence on the game once more, though, with O’Leary required into making two fine stops - first to deny Bright Osayi-Samuel’s cross-turned-shot from the right flank, before Ibrahim Osman’s header on target was palmed over too.
Still, Eric Ramsay’s visitors ended the half stronger and last-ditch Birmingham tackles saw them stop volleys from Molumby and Alex Mowatt from reaching the net, while Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba’s inviting moment in the box was quashed as the opposing defence closed down his chance to strike.
Albion’s control and pressure didn’t diminish after the restart, with Molumby meeting a cleared corner outside the 18-yard box prior to firing wide on the volley. Again, though, City hit back with a positive spell of their own - one which should’ve brought a goal with it.
Quality defending by Charlie Taylor, however, denied the hosts scoring through danger man Osman thanks to a stretched leg which allowed the Baggies' left-sided defender to hook the Blues attacker’s fizzing shot off the line.
Having produced heroics in the first 45, O’Leary was needed again - somehow diving to parry Marvin Ducksch’s rasping attempt superbly around his left post.
A scrappy last quarter played out in front of the St. Andrew's crowd, who thought they'd stolen all three points courtesy of substitute Priske, who headed in from a stoppage-time corner. However, fellow introduction Gray was impeding O'Leary's view - resulting in the effort being ruled out.
If hearts weren't in mouths enough, Vicente somehow carved out another moment for in-control Blues to take home the spoils - rattling the post after a loose ball fell his way inside the area. Thankfully, Albion were able to clear the melee which proceeded to earn the hardest of hard-fought points against their local counterparts.
Albion: O’Leary; Imray (Gilchrist 46’), Phillips (Bielik 92'), Taylor, Styles; Mowatt, Molumby; Wallace (c) (Johnston 60’), Price, Jimoh-Aloba (Diakité 70’); Heggebø (Dike 61’).
Substitutes: Griffiths, Bielik, Whitwell, Bostock, Maja.
