West Bromwich Albion 0 - 0 West Ham United: Woodwork prevents Baggies breaking deadlock

JAMES Morrison was twice denied by the woodwork but West Brom failed to score for a third successive game in a dire stalemate with West Ham.

The Baggies had the consolation of ending a run of three successive defeats and maintained their place in the top six but Sam Allardyce’s side were worth a share of the spoils in a game which seldom moved out of second gear.

Scotland midfielder Morrison posed Albion’s most creative threat despite operating in a deeper role in the absence of the injured Claudio Yacob. The Hammers, though, showed plenty of resilience, with central defender James Collins a rock-solid performer.

West Ham were only able to field six substitutes due to an injury crisis after Mohamed Diame was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Albion made a promising start but the first semblance of a chance fell to the visitors with Mark Noble heading a deep cross from Carlton Cole over the bar.

West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie was on target with a low 25-yard drive although Jussi Jaaskelainen got his body behind the ball.

But there was little goalmouth action in the opening quarter of the game as both sides struggled to find a creative spark, although Morrison ventured forward to fire a low shot past the post.

Joey O’Brien became the first player to be yellow carded after half an hour for a touch-line challenge on Baggies midfielder Zoltan Gera.

Carlton Cole stung the palms of Albion keeper Boaz Myhill with a 30-yard drive but it was Albion who started the second period on the offensive and Morrison’s hooked volley struck the top of the bar.

Then the Scottish international sliced his shot wide after Gareth McAuley had headed a fourth successive corner from Brunt into his path.

Reid produced a vital clearance to turn a low Odemwingie centre over his own bar under pressure from Long.

But West Ham looked dangerous on the counter-attack and Joey O’Brien volleyed over at full stretch from a deep Noble free-kick.

Morrison struck the bar for the second time with 17 minutes remaining with a header from Brunt’s corner.

Youssouf Mulumbu, Kevin Nolan and Hammers substitute James Tomkins were all booked in quick succession by referee Phil Dowd in the final stages of the game.

Cole nearly made the breakthrough in the final seconds when his snap shot had Myhill scrambling across his line to save at the foot of a post but a draw was a fair outcome.