West Bromwich Albion settled for a point against West Ham United in a lacklustre goalless draw at Upton Park.
Baggies six points from safety after lacklustre draw
West Brom had to settle for a point in a lacklustre goalless draw with West Ham at Upton Park, leaving them six points from safety.
In a game with only two shots on target, the Baggies - try as they might - just could not find a way through a packed Hammers defence.
Shelton Martis came closest for the visitors, with a leaping header rattling the woodwork early in the second half.
Jonathan Greening's slice over the crossbar from close range for the Baggies soon after was the only other chance of note in the 90 minutes.
Now six points from safety at the foot of the table, Tony Mowbray's side will see the draw as two points dropped and a further nail in the coffin for their hopes of Premier League survival.
Recovery
On the day that the Carlos Tevez saga was declared over - with the Hammers and Sheffield United finally coming to an agreement - it looked like the Baggies were at the start of staging an amazing recovery.
But in terms of entertainment, it was in short supply. Marc-Antoine Fortune, playing in attack on his own for the visitors, smashed an effort into the side-netting but that was the sum total of the early chances.
The Baggies had gone eight previous games without a clean sheet so Mowbray tried a new centre-back pairing - Jonas Olsson returned from a knee injury and Martis was given his first top-flight start.
Mowbray's selection appeared to tighten his defence, although it made for dull football.
Predictably, the first talking point came from a set-piece, after Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green needlessly conceded a corner when the ball was drifting out for a goal-kick midway though the opening period.
Chris Brunt's set-piece was aimed at the far post where Paul Robinson went to ground under a challenge from Lucas Neill - but referee Mark Halsey awarded a goal-kick.
Chance
James Morrison created the first genuine chance of the match after Gianni Zuiverloon won the ball in midfield. Morrison charged forward, breezing past James Tomkins and Neill before Green bravely saved his finish.
The hosts were merely looking to contain West Brom at this stage and the task was not made any easier when Matthew Upson was carried off on a stretcher after picking up an injury, with Jonathan Spector coming on.
Carlton Cole supplied 11 goals this season before picking up his second red card of the campaign - and Freddie Sears was given the chance to fill the void left by Zola's suspended first-choice striker.
Hammers youngster Sears had an effort blocked by Martis and another deflected onto the roof of the net before the half-time whistle.
Despite Sears' efforts, West Brom would have felt they had the better of the first 45 minutes - and they should have been ahead 10 minutes after the restart.
Brunt made a yard of room for himself on the left flank and his cross was headed against the crossbar by Martis, with Green requiring treatment for a head injury he picked up while attempting to save.
Savio went on an exciting run but finished it with a shot that almost went for a throw-in, then he got booked for a sliding challenge on Morrison as the Baggies midfielder raided down the right flank.
It was the last contribution the youngster made as Zola brought on Junior Stanislas for the final quarter, replacing the player he bought in a £9million deal in January.
Greening was off target with his glorious opportunity with 19 minutes remaining, accepting Morrison's pass and waiting for Green to commit but chipping his finish over the crossbar.
| West Ham United |
Team Statistics |
West Bromwich Albion |
| 0 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 3 |
Corners |
4 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 6 |
Offsides |
0 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 81.5 |
Passing Success |
76.8 |
| 35 |
Tackles |
19 |
| 71.4 |
Tackles Success |
68.4 |
| 53.6 |
Possession |
46.4 |
| 43.1 |
Territorial Advantage |
56.9 |
|
