Tammer Bany logged an important 45 minutes in his return from injury as Leigh Downing's young Baggies battled to a 0-0 draw with Exeter City on Wednesday evening.
Albion put in an improved second-half showing, but ultimately didn't do enough to break down a resolute back line as they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils against the unbeaten Devoners.
There were few chances of note for either side with the game in its infancy, with the Grecians finding room down the flanks but failing to trouble home shot-stopper Joe Wallis between the sticks.
At the other end, Downing's men saw one long-range strike from Kevin Mfuamba threaten the target, but a sizeable deflection ensured the Exeter goalkeeper went untested.
The Baggies' first clear sight of goal came with 38 minutes on the clock, after a neat move down the left resulted in Miller McDonald firing off-target with a curling effort.
Moments later, Bany's well-timed run saw him break through down the right, but his effort also failed to trouble the 'keeper as the first 45 ended goalless.
With Bany making a planned substitution at the break alongside Deago Nelson, Rio Parmar and Michael Parker entered the fray tasked with helping to break a resolute deadlock between the teams during the second period.
Chances remained at a premium though, with Matty Crowther's powerfully-struck free-kick the only sniff of an opportunity either side could manage as the game passed the hour mark.
Albion looked the more likely, as Parmar first forced a sharp save after beating the offside trap before pinball in the City box should've resulted in the breakthrough. Sadly, several last-ditch tackles and saves from the visitors ensured the game remained level.
Home stopper Wallis got down smartly to his right to deny the visitors on the break as added time drew nearer - giving his team-mates a platform to dominate proceedings from during the latter stages of the clash.
Albion piled on the pressure in more than 10 minutes of added time, but further heroics from the visiting goalkeeper meant there would be no grandstand finish for Downing's troops at the Alexander Stadium as the game ended goalless.
Albion: Wallis (GK), Nelson (Parker 45), Dupont, Mohammed, Humphries (c), Maughan, Mfuamba, Crowther, Bany (Parmar 45), McDonald (Bray 69), Ntege (Francis-Caeser 86).
Subs not used: Brady (GK).
