W.B.A. 0 - 0 Cardiff City. Match Report

Last updated : 17 August 2022 By BBC Sport

West Bromwich Albion are still searching for their first Championship win of the season after they were held to a goalless draw at home to Cardiff City.

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Both sides had chances in an open first half, with the hosts' captain Jake Livermore forcing Ryan Allsop into a save and Sheyi Ojo firing narrowly wide for Cardiff.

Genuine scoring opportunities were at a premium after the break, until Allsop palmed away a 90th-minute header from Semi Ajayi.

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While West Brom remain winless in the Championship, a draw was just reward for another encouraging performance from Steve Morison's improving Cardiff, who now have seven points from four games.

Their opponents at the Hawthorns were among the pre-season favourites for promotion but had started slowly with two draws and a defeat in their opening three league matches.

On this occasion, however, Steve Bruce's men burst out of the blocks and took control of the early exchanges.

Helped by a hesitant Cardiff side who kept losing possession as they tried to play their way out of defence, the Baggies pressed their opponents high up the pitch and created chances for Livermore and Conor Townsend.

Cardiff settled as the first half wore on, with Ojo counter-attacking well and drawing fouls by Dara O'Shea and Livermore which resulted in yellow cards.

After Ojo himself was bizarrely booked after being robustly tackled by Livermore, the former Liverpool winger had the visitors' best chance of the half, side-footing narrowly wide after he was teed up inside the penalty area by Jaden Philogene.

Ojo curled another effort wide after the break as Cardiff grew in confidence. Callum O'Dowda, on for Jamilu Collins after the Nigerian's fifth-minute knee injury, was particularly impressive at left-back.

West Brom struggled to recreate the intensity of their first-half showing, though Ajayi provided a reminder of the hosts' set-piece threat when his header from a 70th-minute corner was held by Allsop.

The centre-back had an even better chance in the final minute as he met a cross by Callum Robinson, but Allsop pushed his header away to secure a well-earned point for Cardiff. 

West Bromwich Albion: Button, Furlong, Townsend, O’Shea, Ajayi, Livermore © (Molumby, 46), Diangana, Wallace (Phillips, 68), Grant (Reach, 84), Swift (Robinson, 68), Yokuslu. Subs not used: Palmer, Bartley, Gardner-Hickman. 

Cardiff City: Allsop, Romeo, Ng, Simpson, Collins (O’Dowda, 9), Wintle, Ralls © (Sawyers, 64), Rinomhota, Philogene (Harris, 75), Ojo (Colwill, 75), Watters (Etete, 64). Subs not used: Alnwick, Denham.