West Brom 0 Millwall 0: Baggies hold high-flyers to draw again as they inch closer to safety

Relegation-battling Albion and promotion-hunting Millwall both had to settle for a point in an entertaining goalless draw at The Hawthorns.

Both sides could have taken maximum spoils on another night as the visitors had the better of the first half before James Morrison’s hosts came on strong late on.

The Baggies extended their timely unbeaten run to seven games with a third successive draw as they took another small step towards Championship survival.

Another stalemate - a second 0-0 in a row - puts Albion five points clear of the drop zone for one night at least, before rivals have the opportunity to reduce the deficit over the weekend.

Millwall clambered back into the top two with a point but should have led by the interval through Josh Coburn’s sitter before Mihailo Ivanovic cracked the crossbar from range.

The latter stages of a lively draw belonged to the Baggies, however. With the home fans behind them Jayson Molumby was somehow denied by Anthony Patterson from close range before Ousmane Diakite sent a glaring headed chance wide.

Resurgent Albion continue to edge towards the finish line without digging out the victory that will all-but get them there with just four fixtures remaining.

Victories for either Portsmouth, Leicester or Oxford will still leave all of a Baggies persuasion sweating.

The Baggies grew into this clash against a clearly very well-oiled and powerful Millwall side and eventually feel disappointed.

Morrison’s options are threadbare, with five youngsters on the bench once again and a makeshift right midfielder Molumby utilised. The Baggies lacked quality and composure but not endeavour and heart, which earned them a deserved points.

Mowatt - back in the side with the armband for the first time in seven games - showed an early sign of rustiness as he lost possession loosely in midfield.

Albion were nearly punished as the visitors’ Theirno Ballo, attacking a raucous away end, almost marked a rare start with a fine solo effort but could only chip wide under pressure from Max O’Leary.

Morrison’s men settled well otherwise as Daryl Dike, Albion’s other change, almost profited on some hesitancy in the away defence, but the burly frontman lifted a long way wide after getting in between the Millwall bodies.

Aune Heggebo lashed high and wide after fine work from the spritely Dike down the hosts’ left.

The Baggies gave as good as they got but the clear chance of the opening stages went to Alex Neil’s visitors.

The lively Ballo delivered a pinpoint cross from left which was steered a long way wide by in-form frontman Coburn, for whom it looked easier to score from five yards.

A watchable first half hour dampened somewhat, punctuated by foul after foul. Albion wasted two presentable set-piece deliveries in a couple of minutes, with groans around the stadium as Isaac Price failed to beat the first man.

Then, out of almost nowhere, the promotion-hunting Lions were inches from a spectacular breakthrough.

There was nothing on for Ivanovic as the ball dropped his way 25 yards from goal, but the Serbian striker spun and saw a cracker from range dip on to O’Leary’s crossbar. The keeper was caught out and wouldn’t have got there.

Millwall dominated the end of the first half and and were close to a breakthrough on other occasions. Nat Phillips awkwardly kneed narrowly wide after miscommunication between O’Leary and George Campbell.

The half-cleared resulting corner saw midfielder Camiel Neghli’s half-volley from 20 yards require a fine one-handed O’Leary save. The ball was flying six inches wide of the upright.

It was painfully clear in the first half the Baggies lacked a spark of creative touch either out wide or through the frontline - not for the lack of any endeavour.

Morrison’s side again worked some decent positions early in the second period but a mix of lack of composure and quality or some decent Millwall defending prevented any openings.

Lions left-back Zak Sturge, who scored at The Den in October, lashed into the side netting with O’Leary comfortable.

The atmosphere ramped up around the hour with goalmouth action at a premium. A lift in mood was sparked once again by some fine Diakite work, both with and without the ball.

Molumby had been tireless as ever from an unusual right-sided role, albeit lacking the natural nous in certain situations, and got a pass to release Heggebo in the final third wrong.

The Irishman then drove a low strike narrowly wide from range after excellent Price work on the left.

Albion had a second wind. Danny Imray was at times a dangerous outlet on the right and his long throw-ins a menace against giant Millwall. A half-cleared delivery saw Mowatt’s strike blocked before Campbell lashed over.

Phillips and Campbell were grateful for diligent Styles recovery work as Millwall prowled through Ivanovic.

The final stages looked like belonging to the hosts, who clicked through the gears and really should’ve found a late advantage.

A neatly-worked short corner was delivered low by Styles and flicked on by Campbell. Pinball ensued before it dropped to Molumby, five yards out, and his low effort was somehow saved by Patterson. It was heads in hands all round.

More came seconds later as Styles’ resulting corner was just missed by Phillips and glanced wide by Diakite from close range.

Albion continued to press but eight minutes of stoppage time could not help break the deadlock on an entertaining night and worthwhile point - as the hunt for that priceless win goes on.

Albion (4-4-2): O'Leary; Imray, Phillips, Campbell, Styles; Mowatt (c), Diakite, Molumby, Price; Dike (Sule, 84), Heggebo (Maja, 68)

Subs not used: Griffiths, Gilchrist, Taylor, Whitwell, Jimoh-Aloba, Bostock, Mustapha.

Millwall (4-4-2): Patterson; Crama, Cooper (c), Taylor, Sturge (Bryan, 73, McNamara, 87)); Azeez (Bannan, 90+5), Neghli, De Norre (Mazou-Sacko, 65), Ballo (Watson, 73); Ivanovic, Corburn (Langstaff, 65)

Subs not used: Crocombe (gk), Leonard, Cundle

Referee: Lewis Smith