West Bromwich Albion 0-0 West Ham: Joe Hart keeps second clean sheet in six days as Gareth Barry equals Premier League record in dull draw

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Gareth Barry moved level with Ryan Giggs as the Premier League's record appearance-holder and it must be difficult for him to think of a duller encounter in his previous 631.

His 632nd top-flight game wouldn't have been ringed as a contender for any DVD collating his career highlights in advance and so it transpired, West Brom and West Ham contriving to produce a contest desperately low on quality or entertainment.

West Brom took until the 88th minute to find a shot on target and even then Hal Robson-Kanu's tame header went straight into the arms of Joe Hart. West Ham were not much better, only Michail Antonio's long-range effort in the first half requiring Ben Foster's intervention.  


Slaven Bilic (centre) and Tony Pulis watched their sides play out a forgettable 0-0 draw at the Hawthorns on Saturday

Slaven Bilic (centre) and Tony Pulis watched their sides play out a forgettable 0-0 draw at the Hawthorns on Saturday

The game was a disappointment for many but Hammers goalkeeper Joe Hart will be delighted with another clean sheet

The game was a disappointment for many but Hammers goalkeeper Joe Hart will be delighted with another clean sheet

Meanwhile, Baggies midfielder Gareth Barry became just the second player to make 632 appearances in the Premier League

Meanwhile, Baggies midfielder Gareth Barry became just the second player to make 632 appearances in the Premier League

MATCH FACTS, PLAYERS RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

WEST BROM (4-2-3-1):Foster 6; Dawson 6.5, Hegazi 7, Evans 7, Gibbs 6.5 (Nyom 84'); Krychowiak 7.5, Barry 6.5; Brunt 6.5 (Robson-Kanu 72' 6), Morrison 6.5, Phillips 7 (McClean 76'); Rodriguez 5

SUBS NOT USED: Myhill, McAuley, Yacob, Rondon

BOOKINGS: Foster (66), McClean (83)

MANAGER: Tony Pulis 6

WEST HAM (3-4-2-1): Hart 6.5; Fonte 6, Reid 7, Collins 6.5 (Arnautovic 58' 6); Zabaleta 6, Obiang 7, Kouyate 6.5, Cresswell 6; Antonio 7, Hernandez 6.5 (Ayew 76'); Carroll 6 (Sakho 82')

SUBS NOT USED: Adrian, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Rice 

BOOKINGS: Foster (66), McClean (83) 

MANAGER: Slaven Bilic 6

ATTENDANCE: 24,942

MOTM: Krychowiak

REF: Paul Tierney 7

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
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  • Bundesliga

 Each side registered just one shot on target during a dismal 90 minutes at The Hawthorns.

Full back Kieran Gibbs made his home debut for West Bromwich Albion, sticking to the left flank and getting up and down the pitch

Full back Kieran Gibbs made his home debut for West Bromwich Albion, sticking to the left flank and getting up and down the pitch

Gareth Barry was West Brom's busiest player, touching the ball 47 times

Gareth Barry was West Brom's busiest player, touching the ball 47 times

For more West Brom v West Ham stats and maps check out Match Zone.

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In hindsight, such a result could have been telegraphed in advance given its benefits to both managers. The point can be seen as a further step in the right direction for Slaven Bilic, who was thoroughly beleaguered before last Monday's victory over Huddersfield.

And the 0-0 also helps Tony Pulis move on from West Brom's uncharacteristic 3-1 defeat at Brighton last weekend.

Pulis will also come away from this game reinforced in the belief he has pulled over a real coup with the signing of Grzegorz Krychowiak on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

Krychowiak, the subject of a tit-for-tat battle between Bilic and David Sullivan over a summer pursuit, sprinkled class with every touch. But this was a day for Barry to be appreciated.

'From the outside I have always been a great admirer of Gareth and with him coming into the club you recognise that his dedication and application is absolutely fantastic,' said Pulis. 'I hope our young players realise how lucky they are.'

The supporters who witnessed this game were not so fortunate. 'It hasn't been a great game of football, but we were solid, we limited them,' Bilic said. 'In the second half we were dominant. We won't be raving about this game, but this week has been good for us. A clean sheet and a point away, you can't be too negative.' 

The game started tentatively but West Ham created a chance for Andy Carroll who lost his footing and failed to convert

The game started tentatively but West Ham created a chance for Andy Carroll who lost his footing and failed to convert

Barry then came close to breaking the deadlock on his big day as he met the ball with a header, which flashed over the bar

Barry then came close to breaking the deadlock on his big day as he met the ball with a header, which flashed over the bar

Barry was making his 632nd appearance in the Premier League, which saw him equal the all-time  record set by Ryan Giggs

Barry was making his 632nd appearance in the Premier League, which saw him equal the all-time record set by Ryan Giggs

Summer signing Kieran Gibbs (left) made his first start for West Brom since joining the club from Arsenal last month

Summer signing Kieran Gibbs (left) made his first start for West Brom since joining the club from Arsenal last month

Left back Gibbs got forward much more frequently than Craig Dawson on the other side of West Brom's defence

Left back Gibbs got forward much more frequently than Craig Dawson on the other side of West Brom's defence

Pedro Obiang did very nearly shatter the ennui with an outrageous piece of improvisation in the 28th minute. Collecting the ball just outside the centre-circle, Obiang saw Ben Foster off his line and struck a brilliant curling shot from all of 45 yards. The ball appeared to be going in as it hung in the air but fortunately for a beaten Foster it smacked against the crossbar.

Matt Phillips was West Brom's liveliest player and he was central to their best moment seven minutes before the break. Phillips spun into possession, beat Jose Fonte down the left, and crossed to James Morrison, who got his free header from 10 yards badly wrong.

West Ham felt West Brom should have been reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute when Foster took out Javier Hernandez. Referee Paul Tierney concluded a couple of West Brom defenders offered cover and showed only a yellow.

As the match trundled along there were groans when the board went up showing five minutes of added time. It was that kind of game, one Barry will forget in a hurry.

Midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak (left) made his first home appearance after his August loan move from PSG to West Brom

Midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak (left) made his first home appearance after his August loan move from PSG to West Brom

He was almost outshone in midfield in incredible fashion as Pedro Obiang (pictured) hit the crossbar from all of 45 yards

He was almost outshone in midfield in spectacular fashion as Pedro Obiang (pictured) hit the crossbar from all of 45 yards

The game was pretty unspectacular for the most part, though. But there was a big flashpoint midway through the second half

The game was pretty unspectacular for the most part, though. But there was a big flashpoint midway through the second half

West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster rushed out of his goal and fouled Javier Hernandez - but only saw yellow

West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster rushed out of his goal and fouled Javier Hernandez - but only saw yellow

Hernandez and his West Ham team-mates were furious and felt that Foster's  challenge was definitely a sending off offence

Hernandez and his West Ham team-mates were furious and felt that Foster's challenge was definitely a sending off offence

Hernandez was unhurt, but James Collins had earlier required treatment. He was eventually replaced by Marko Arnautovic

Hernandez was unhurt, but James Collins had earlier required treatment. He was eventually replaced by Marko Arnautovic

Substitute Arnautovic also went down in pain, but the 28-year-old Austria international was able to play on until full-time

Substitute Arnautovic also went down in pain, but the 28-year-old Austria international was able to play on until full-time

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