Birmingham City were left to rue a string of missed chances and a late offside decision as they were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling West Bromwich Albion, missing the opportunity to move into the Championship play-off places. Chris Davies' side, boasting the division's fourth best home record before kick-off, could not find a way past a West Brom team fighting to pull clear of the relegation places.
New West Brom head coach Eric Ramsay remains without a win but collected a second successive draw and clean sheet, a result that nudged the Baggies two points above the relegation zone and provided a rare moment of stability away from home after 11 defeats in their previous 12 league trips. Birmingham, by contrast, will look back on a night of frustration that featured a contentious penalty appeal, two goal-line clearances, an offside stoppage-time header and a shot against the post.
Even First Period Overshadowed by Penalty Controversy
Birmingham and West Brom traded periods of control in what was described as an evenly contested opening to the contest, despite the contrasting form that had framed the fixture. With the visitors arriving on the back of a torrid run on the road and the hosts so strong at home, many had expected Birmingham to immediately impose themselves, but Ramsay's side proved more than competitive.