Blackburn Rovers 0-0 West Bromwich Albion: Point edges both closer to safety

Blackburn kept their third successive clean sheet as they were held to a goalless draw by fellow relegation battlers West Brom.

Following the earlier draw between Portsmouth and Oxford, both sides knew a win would hand a significant boost to their survival chances.

But it was perhaps unsurprising that two teams that have become harder to beat would cancel each other out and so it proved as the only clearcut chance came in the first half when Aune Heggebo's effort was magnificently tipped onto the goal frame by Balazs Toth.

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Where the Baggies bossed the first half, so did Rovers in the second but aside from a blocked Mathias Jorgensen shot, they could not break through a resolute away defence.

Blackburn's unbeaten run stretches to four, during which time they have conceded just once and are six points clear of danger.

West Brom's impressive run under James Morrison continues as they stretch their own unbeaten run to six matches to keep themselves four points from the bottom three.

The Baggies, roared on by a magnificent away contingent in excess of 7,500, made a positive start and Danny Imray crossed to Isaac Price in the seventh minute but the attacker stroked wide from 12 yards out.

Albion would have been ahead on the half hour but for an astonishing save as Josh Maja cushioned a header into the path of Heggebo six yards out and his powerful strike was arrowing into the roof of the net but Toth sprung into action and diverted onto the crossbar before Rovers cleared.

The hosts struggled to make any inroads in an attacking sense and only had efforts blazed off target towards the end of the half by Todd Cantwell and Ryoya Morishita to show for their efforts.

Michael O'Neill rang the half-time changes and opted for a change of shape and Rovers certainly seemed better for it as they forced two early corners. From the first, Max O'Leary's unconvincing punch fell to Moussa Baradji, whose half-volley sailed over.

Rovers immediately forced another corner which was headed wide by Tom Atcheson in the 50th minute.

The switch to 4-4-2 gave West Brom's defence much more to think about and Rovers went close again in the 67th minute when Yuki Ohashi's left-wing cross fell to substitute Mathias Jorgensen in the area but his shot was superbly blocked by Ousmane Diakite.

It became increasingly clear that one goal would be enough for victory in such a tight affair and Daryl Dike almost provided it for Albion with five minutes remaining, but Dapo Afolayan slid in to deflect over.

The managers

Blackburn's Alex Neil:

"I can see why he's number one for his country. He's played extremely well in the period I've been here. He is capable of making big saves at key moments of the game. Top goalkeepers do that. He has those traits.

"We have to be happy with four points from two games. I didn't think we played as well today. There's always a worry after what the players put into the game on Friday that they can get to the same level physically.

"First half we struggled a little bit with that, gave the ball away cheaply. Goalkeeper makes an amazing save for us which we needed at that point in time.

"But second half, I thought we were a lot better. I thought we looked like the team more likely to win the game but we didn't make the best of some of the opportunities we had.

"We have to be pleased with the clean sheet. It keeps us six points clear of the teams in the bottom three."

West Brom's James Morrison:

"It was fantastic wasn't it? For an away performance, if that goes in, 1-0, you come away and think that's a great away performance. But I have to give credit to the goalkeeper. I don't think Heggebo could have done much more.

"I thought two teams looked a bit nervy for the situation we're in which is normal. I was happy really after the game because I've seen my players give everything out there but we just lacked the quality in the final third and when we got there with set plays at the end, our quality wasn't there today.

"I've seen my players give everything really. Even when we lost the ball, everyone running back. Balls coming in the box and headers, the block Ousmane (Diakite) did at the end.

"On that front I'm happy, but disappointed with the lack of composure and quality when we got into good areas."

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