Match Reports

Albion 0-0 Cardiff City

Karlan Grant

Albion drew 0-0 with Cardiff City at The Hawthorns on Wednesday evening.

There were opportunities at both ends either side of half time, but eventually the teams were forced to share the Sky Bet Championship spoils.

The Baggies are next in action on Saturday against Hull City.

Steve Bruce made just one change to the starting XI, bringing Okay Yokuslu in for his maiden league start since re-joining the club.

And Albion began brightly – Jake Livermore seeing a venomous effort saved and Conor Townsend heading over for the high-pressing hosts inside the opening 20 minutes.

Cardiff’s first chance came midway through the half when Mahlon Romeo volleyed into the Birmingham Road End and, with the break approaching, Sheyi Ojo then gave the Baggies a scare by side-footing narrowly off-target.

Jed Wallace forced Ryan Allsop into a strong stop and Perry NG shot wide as the sides exchanged opportunities late into the first 45, however it remained goalless on referee Andrew Madley’s half-time whistle.

It was more of the same story after the interval. Ojo struck past the post for the visitors, while John Swift curled over for Albion.

A variety of substitutes in the form of Jason Molumby, Matt Phillips and Callum Robinson were thrown on to try and change the game – yet the Baggies just couldn’t seem to find a winner.

One final chance arrived in stoppage time as Robinson found Semi Ajayi in the box, however his header was brilliantly saved – meaning the points had to be shared.

Albion: Button; Furlong, Ajayi, O’Shea, Townsend; Livermore (Molumby 45), Yokuslu; Wallace (Phillips 68), Swift (Robinson 68), Diangana; Grant (Reach 84).

Substitutes: Palmer, Bartley, Gardner-Hickman.

Attendance: 21,820