Analysis: West Brom's draw at Hull shows the gap between the Championship's best and the rest

But this current Carlos Corberan side doesn’t do that.

In fact, against a front line boasting a Liverpool loanee which has also had a decent amount of investment, they reduced them to just pressure rather than goalscoring opportunities.

It was always going to be a tough ask for Albion to go to Hull, a side in blistering form who recently downed the passing machines that are Southampton, on their own patch, and win.

But in the first half they showed they were more than capable of doing it.

It felt like chance after chance was being created but when that happens and you don’t take them – you always get that looming feeling that you’ll get a bite on the backside.

That is what happened – but Albion responded immediately.

Then it was a dig the trench and soak it up job – and they soaked it up and almost nicked down the other end.

The overall clash threw up some very interesting points of discussion.

As Carlos Corberan said in his post-match interview, a point was a fair result because both sides had chances.

That was very much the case.

There is also a very big similarity between Albion and Hull – who in many eyes are the Championship’s best of the rest – and those above them.

All afternoon, both sides played out from the back.

Both sides were also caught a handful of times when they were playing out from the back.

And what that underlines is although there is a similarity between Albion and those top four sides, those teams are battling for the title rather than the play-offs because they have the quality to execute it better.

That is where both Corberan and his counterpart Liam Rosenior want to get to.

Albion’s point is arguably even more impressive because they did it without a recognised striker ever taking to the field of play.

Jed Wallace led the line, and did it well, but it was two other selection decisions that brought up debate.

Many have been waiting for Corberan to pull Erik Pieters out of the side but the 35-year-old played his fourth game in 11 days.

Grady Diangana came in for John Swift, but failed to really light up the game and struggled in possession.

It wasn’t a bad display from Diangana, and no Albion player had a bad day.

Had they taken some of their first-half chances, some would have been in for bigger marks.

Mikey Johnston dragged an early effort wide and as the minutes went by Albion continued to get closer and closer.

Tom Fellows turned the full-back inside out and crossed for Wallace who struck the post with Alex Mowatt then having his follow up saved.

Following that, Darnell Furlong’s header was almost turned in by Diangana. Then as the game went on the inevitable happened as Fabio Carvalho lashed in a rasping effort from 30 yards.

Although some pointed the finger at Alex Palmer, who didn’t have his best overall game, the goalkeeper could do little about it.

Albion rallied as Furlong headed home from a Wallace corner, their second set-piece goal in two games.

For the last couple of years the Baggies players were so far removed from those who came before them in the era of Tony Pulis, when set-pieces were cherished.

But Albion have rediscovered some of their prowess in that area, and should that continue then it bodes well for the run in.

The second half was a different story. Hull had control but not a grip on the game.

They pegged Albion back and the Baggies just couldn’t get out.

Aside from Palmer keeping out a chipped effort, they kept Hull at bay.

Jaden Philogene rattled the post in the most fortunate moment of the half – and that in turn rattled Albion into action.

They put late pressure on and it looked as though Adam Reach, an unpopular substitute, had curled them to victory.

His effort hit the inside of the post and fell to Swift. It looked for all the world like he would score but he dragged his effort at the keeper.

It was a fair result that really showed where these sides are as good as level pegging.

The margin to the top four sides, certainly the top two, is not as wide as some may think, but there are just a few key qualities missing from both.