West Bromwich Albion have emerged victorious from a penalty shootout to advance to the third round of the League Cup after a 0-0 draw with Port Vale at The Hawthorns.
Brought into the team with in-demand striker Saido Berahino once again absent, Brown Ideye came within inches of opening the scoring when he just could not convert from Rickie Lambert's cross.
In a first half of few chances, Serge Gnabry fired over after driving towards goal, before Lambert's deflected shot was clawed away at the far post by Vale goalkeeper Jak Alnwick in stoppage time.
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Albion started the second period more positively and Lambert was twice denied an opening goal, first when his header was cleared off the line by Anthony Grant before his 20-yard drive was tipped over by Alnwick.
Louis Dodds wasted a rare chance for the away side when he volleyed Sam Foley's corner over the bar, before substitute Salomon Rondon nearly won it for the Baggies when he headed inches wide from Lambert's cross.
The former Liverpool striker almost hit a spectacular winner himself when his 35-yard half-volley flew over with Alnwick scrambling, but neither side could find a breakthrough in 90 minutes.
Rondon should have won it for the home side when he headed against the bar from a Callum McManaman cross, before Alnwick saved James McClean's effort.
It took a penalty shootout to settle the tie, and Richard Duffy blazed his penalty over the crossbar to consign Vale to a 5-3 spot-kick defeat.
Tom Nightingale
