West Bromwich Albion hosted West Ham United in the Premier League this afternoon, knowing that a win could see them move joint-third in the league.
Albion went into the match on a three-match losing streak, while the Hammers had won just once in their last five games.
James Morrison came closest to scoring a goal in a scrappy match, hitting the bar with a headed effort, but defence won an attritional battle in the end.
You can see how all events unfolded below:
Good afternoon! We're underway at the Hawthorns!
Both sides have made a very good to the season, but West Brom have been the bigger surprise package, keeping in touch with the top four with 16 games gone.
The Baggies have made a strong start to this match! Brunt whips a dangerous cross in and it takes a splended piece of defending to clear the danger.
West Brom are peppering the Hammers' box with crosses early on, and Collins is forced to clear another one away. Very fast start to this match!
The Hawthorns is bouncing today, but West Ham have slowed the game down after that frantic start.
Odewingie briefly gets beyond the last defender, but West Ham scramble back well to avert the danger and attempt to break themselves.
Reid is down for West Ham following a deep free kick that West Brom safely cleared. He looks like he'll be alright, but he's not moving freely at the moment.
Morrison goes down under a challenge from O'Neill and West Brom have a free kick from about 30 yards out. Perfect distance to be able to get it up and over the wall, what can the Baggies do...?
Nothing initially as Brunt hammers it straight into the wall, but they recycle the ball and a subsequent cross finds Odemwingie who completely miscues his header. That was probably a better chance than he made out.
SHOT! Odemwingie has been very lively so far today, and he gets a shooting chance from 25-yards out. His strike is well-hit but straight at Jaaskelainen, who comfortably saves.
West Ham have a very good attacking platform as Cole flicks the ball on to Jarvis, but his cross doesn't reach Nolan in the box. A better cross could well have led to a goal there.
Collins hoofs a long ball upfield straight into the arms of Myhill. There's an interesting contrast of styles going on in the this match.
Morrison tries to send a long ball over to Long, but it is just too far in front of the West Brom man and Jaaskelainen collects.
Odemwingie is pulled back by O'Brien on the halfway line. He's proved a real handful in the opening 20 minutes or so.
There's no shortage of attacking desire on show today as both teams are looking to get forward in numbers, but the final ball has just been awry on a few occasions so far.
Mulumbu this time wins a free kick for the Baggies in a very physical but good-spirited contest. The midfield battle in particular is intriguing.
Morrison lets fly from long range but drags his shot well wide of the post. West Brom do look the most likely to score here but are yet to really test Jaaskelainen.
Long and Popov send successive crosses into the box with a severe difference in quality between them. One thing remains the same, however, as Collins clears both.
CLOSE! Long skips inside one man to find space to shoot, but he doesn't catch hold of his shot and drags it narrowly wide of the post.
Taylor sneaks in behind Popov at the back post and O'Neil's pass finds him, but the header back across goal is cut out by Myhill.
SAVE! Bread and butter again for Jaaskelainen as Brunt hits a powerful effort from 25-yards straight at the keeper. West Brom have some good long range shooters, though, so West Ham can't afford to allow them so much room on the edge of the box.
Another cross into the box forces Jones to turn it out for a corner at the back post...
CHANCE! The corner is headed back across goal from Collins and Reid reaches a leg around his marker but can only turn it over from five yards out. Tough chance but if it had fallen to anyone else it may well be 1-0.
Another shot from around the 25-yard mark as Long turns away from his man and drags another shot past the near post. That's twice he's done that now.
SAVE! A scramble in midfield sees Cole emerge with the ball, and he has a go from 25-yards out but his powerful drive is beaten away by Myhill.
West Ham have enjoyed a good spell of possession and territory in the last few minutes without really troubling Myhill.
Popov is penalised for a shove on Demel and West Ham have another chance to pump the ball into the box.
It's an awful free kick, though, and doesn't even reach the box!
Long wins a header from a long ball up and Odemwingie tries to run onto the ball, but Reid is on hand to cover and see the ball out for a goal kick.
Long is penalised for an aerial foul on Collins this time, and the Hammers defender slams it upfield, only to get it returned straight back to him.
Collins has been a collosus in defence for the Hammers in the first half, and once again does well to see Morrison out.
We'll have one minute of added time at the Hawthorns.
Mulumbu jumps up to intercept a pass and the ref is slow to give the decision, but eventually pulls him back from a blatant handball!
However, Noble's free kick runs harmlessly through to Myhill.
HALF TIME: West Brom 0-0 West Ham
So a half of very few chances for either side, with the best probably falling to Reid from a corner.
You can read Sports Mole's half-time report of this match, provided by my colleague Liam Apicella, here.
West Brom starting the match looking very lively, Peter Odemwingie in particular, but West Ham have eased themselves into the match and were probably in the ascendancy at the end of the half.
Perhaps predictably, Sam Allardyce's men have looked most likely to score via a set piece, although the delivery from such chances on the whole has been poor today.
West Brom, meanwhile, look dangerous in the gap between the Hammers' midfield and defence, with Odemwingie dropping into that hole on numerous occasions. However, despite the attacking platforms that this has provided, they haven't really tested Jaaskelainen.
This match isn't the first game of the day in the Premier League. Earlier Jan Vertonghen gave Spurs a 1-0 win over Swansea City, taking them up to level on points with third-placed Chelsea.
Both managers will be imploring their sides to create more in front of goal, but equally they will be happy with their own defences and will want to keep that up.
Neither manager would be devastated with a draw today, however. For West Brom it would bring an end to their losing record against a good West Ham side, while the Hammers would have to be happy with a draw away to the high-flying Baggies.
The teams are back out to Faithless' song 'Insomnia'. Hopefully that'll be enough to wake these two teams up!
We're back underway! Can either side find a breakthrough in this second 45?
A low, awkward cross from Odemwingie is blocked by Reid but the ball gets caught under the defender's feet and he just manages to bundle it out for a corner.
OFF THE BAR! The corner looks to be too deep, but Gera keeps it in acrobatically and Morrison turns it towards goal, but it loops up and onto the top of the crossbar.
A series of corners result in scrambles in the West Ham box, but West Brom just can't get a good shot in and eventually, after three corners, the Hammers get a goalkick.
CLOSE! A fine curling effort from O'Neil flies inches past the post after another scramble, this time in the West Brom box! That would've been a brilliant strike had it gone in, Myhill was rooted to the spot.
This second half has started at a similar pace to the first. Let's hope it doesn't die off in the same way!
Mulumbu is teed up on the edge of the box and just tries to guide it with the side of his foot, but it's not troubling Jaaskelainen and goes a yard or so wide of the post.
End to end stuff here! West Brom fall asleep from a free kick and Jarvis crosses into the box. Cole gets on the end of it but decides to try and chest it down instead of heading it. Nolan collects the lay off but can't keep his balance as his shot goes wide.
Cole wins the ball inside the box and has an easy lay off to Nolan if he looks up, but instead he sends the ball high into the middle where no teammates are waiting. Much better stuff in this half so far!
Odemwingie fires a rushed shot high and wide past the goal, before Taylor sends one low and wide at the other end. This is looking more like a basketball game at the moment!
Noble completely miskicks a volley as another cross is cleared out of the Baggies box. Reid then meets a corner but can't direct his header on target.
CHANCE! West Brom break clear after being penned back by the Hammers and Gera eventually gets a powerful shot in from 25-yards which Jaaskelainen can't hold on to. Long follows up the ball is just too high for him to get a good connection on it.
Odemwingie scurries down the left flank and wins a corner for his side...
...but it comes to nothing.
The pendulum of momentum keeps on swinging in this match. West Brom have now had a few minutes in the ascendency!
Dangerous cross from Long is brilliantly cleared over his own crossbar by Reid, and from the resulting corner Gera rises but can't keep his header down.
CLOSE! Noble drifts a ball into the far post from a free kick which O'Brien latches onto at the far post, but his lopping cross/shot eludes all of his teammates and the Baggies goal.
Another mad scramble in the West Ham box this time with a number of shots being blocked before it finally goes out for a goal kick! This second half has not been for the faint-hearted!
Almost a lovely move from West Brom as the ball is slipped in to Mulumbu, who touches it towards Morrison. The ball goes to Odemwingie, however, and he can't take advantage of the situation.
Both sides seem to have adopted a shoot-on-sight policy in this second half. Nolan is the latest to have a go at goal, but his is blocked by more frantic defending.
West Brom come forward again and Odemwingie turns Collins inside out in the area before clipping a cross in, but no-one is at the back post. Jones then has a shot blocked and it eventually goes out for a corner.
OFF THE BAR! The corner is swept in by Brunt and met by the head of Morrison. He gets a good connection on it, but has to watch as it comes back off the crossbar. Very unlucky!
SUB: On comes Romelo Lukaku for Zoltan Gera.
SUB: West Ham respond with a sub of their own, taking off Matt Jarvis for Modibo Maiga.
Odemwingie tries to create another chance with his quick feet but the defence once again holds firm. It is the Baggies who are pushing for the winner here!
As I say that, Cole shows good strength and persistence to dispossess a West Brom defender in the box, but the linesman flags for a foul. Harsh decision.
Both sides have defended frantically yet heroically in this second half!
SUB: Off goes Guy Demel to be replaced by Tomkins, and he'll have to defend a corner as his first action.
ANOTHER scramble in the box! The ball pinballs around the area until West Ham finally get it clear. There has been chaos in both penalty areas at times in this second period.
SUB: Off goes Shane Long for West Brom and on comes Markus Rosenberg. Long for once isn't smiling as he comes off.
Mulumbu and Nolan square up to each other from a throw in, shouting in each other's faces. Phil Dowd steps back to observe before showing a yellow card to both players.
West Ham finally get back on the front foot, but the Baggies deal with the danger and return with similar attacking intent, resulting in Tomkins receiving a yellow card. Free kick to West Brom...
It's a good one from Brunt, but Jaaskelainen comes a long way to claim it.
Odemwingie goes down under the challenge of O'Neil and West Brom have a free kick right on the edge of the box. Great chance to get a late opener...
Rosenberg fakes the free kick twice to try and get the wall to break, but his eventual effort is poor and hits the bottom of the wall.
Collins buys his side a free kick deep in his own corner. He's had a very good game today.
Four minutes added time at the Hawthorns! Can anyone find a breakthrough?
SAVE! West Ham almost steal it! Cole takes the ball down well and shoots on the turn, but Myhill gets down well to save it. It looked to be creeping in for a moment then!
Both sides are pumping the ball forward at every opportunity now. West Ham have been doing that all game but now West Brom have joined in!
Allardyce is looking worried on the touchline. He is one minute away from a fine away point.
Jonas Olsson has picked up a late yellow card for the Baggies as they try and launch one last attack...but there's no time!
FULL-TIME: West Brom 0-0 West Ham
Well, there you have it! You probably won't see a scrappier game than that all season. A typical English game between two sides who will probably be around midtable at the end of this campaign.
West Brom had the best of the second half for sure, including a shot which hit the crossbar, but West Ham defending stoutly throughout.
You can read an in-depth report of a frantic match at the Hawthorns here.
A good points for the Hammers today then, and Steve Clarke won't be devastated with a draw either. Yes, they would have fancied themselves today, but they've ended their losing streak.
Right, that's it from me today! Thanks for joining me and Sports Mole for today's match, I hope you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for match analysis, which should be up within half an hour, as well as reaction and news from all of today's matches.
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
