Express & Star

Report and pics of Southampton 0 Albion 0

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West Brom collected a second draw in two matches under new boss Alan Irvine as they produced an encouraging display in a goalless contest at St Mary's.

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Albion fans got their first sighting of £10m club-record signing Brown Ideye, who almost netted a special debut goal after replacing the injured Victor Anichebe.

And there were other chances at both ends but neither side could manage a breakthrough.

Albion started brightly and they had the game's first chance on four minutes when Chris Brunt combined well with Sebastien Pocognoli on the left and Brunt's cross found Victor Anichebe.

Anichebe tried a clever flick with the outside of his boot to take his marker out of the equation but his effort went just wide.

On nine minutes the Baggies failed to deal with a left-wing cross and Graziano Pelle headed just wide of Ben Foster's goal.

Ten minutes later a good move on the right ended with Andre Wisdom's pull-back finding Graham Dorrans, whose shot was deflected for a corner by Jose Fonte.

Albion made most of the running in the first half but they survived three scares as half-time approached.

First they were opened up a little too easily down their right flank and a shot by Pelle was blocked instinctively by Olsson.

Then a poor backpass by Wisdom put Foster in trouble as he was beaten to the ball by Dusan Tadic, but he was ushered wide and his cross was poor.

And Tadic had a low effort well saved by Foster after a clearance from Saido Berahino was deflected into his path.

Albion old-boy Shane Long was introduced as a half-time substitute for Southampton and six minutes into the second period he was followed onto the field by Ideye, who replaced the injured Victor Anichebe.

And it was Long who was first to have a sight of goal as he rose above Olsson to meet a Tadic cross but sent a looping header over the crossbar.

Ideye's first opportunity arrived just before the hour-mark when he arrived at the far post to meet a fine cross by Pocognoli but nodded into the side-netting.

Pocognoli was injured in the build-up, leading to a debut for Jason Davidson at left-back.

And moments later Baggies keeper Ben Foster had a let-off when he rushed out and failed to claim a cross by James Ward-Prowse and was grateful to see it run to safety.

With 23 minutes remaining the lively Tadic fired just wide of the Baggies goal after a knock-down by Pelle, then Ward-Prowse bent a free-kick inches wide from 25 yards.

Eighteen minutes from full-time Ideye almost conjured up a brilliant debut goal when he turned superbly away from Maya Yoshida only to see his crisp shot saved excellently by Forster.