West Ham 0 Albion 0 - analysis

While Albion clawed back just a fraction of the gap at the foot of the Premier League, they took a big stride towards regaining fading credibility.

The one point gleaned from a low-key outing at Upton Park last night might mean everything in the quest against relegation. Or it might mean nothing.

Yet the performance they gave to hold the Hammers meant a hell of a lot to Baggies supporters. It was vital too to the pride of some much-maligned footballers at the top-flight's bottom club.

They arrived accused of footballing cowardice, not only by their long-suffering fans but by at least one member of their own ranks.

But if Paul Robinson intended his words of condemnation of some of his colleagues last week to liven up those in the firing line, he would have been delighted with events in the capital.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray rang the changes 13 days after the shocking display against Arsenal. The manager saw his side go some way to answering the critics who question their stomach for the fight.

It wasn't about blood and thunder – West Ham were never likely to offer a bruising physical test. Yet this latest away display in a season of struggle did much to banish memories of the defensive capitulation against the Gunners.

While the Baggies were fortunate to meet a West Ham side shorn of any muscle in attack, Mowbray's men still did enough to provide encouragement that the debacle against the Gunners had stung them into action.

When a header was required, Robinson, Gianni Zuiverloon, the returning Jonas Olsson or Premier League debutant Shelton Martis delivered.

When the situation called for bodies on the line, they were equally committed. When a tackle was needed, it was made. When a clearance was the best option, Albion wasted no time in making it.

From an unusually solid base, the Baggies set about hunting a second away win of the season against a subdued Hammers side who were never allowed to find their stride.

Unfortunately, Mowbray's side conjured up some pleasing football without securing the breakthrough that would have turned an encouraging evening into a memorable one.

Twice they were denied by Hammers keeper Robert Green and once the woodwork got in their way. Such was Albion's superiority that they departed disappointed not to have secured an unlikely victory.

Yet Mowbray and Co had more to smile about than they had for several weeks.

There is no right way to be relegated. But there is a wrong way. That was what the Baggies produced a fortnight ago. Last night was a massive improvement.

Despite some early encouragement in attack, there were still signs of the defensive frailties that had blighted Albion's season – they could have been undone when the home side won their first corner on 15 minutes.

Albion half-cleared their lines but Mark Noble played a neat one-two with Scott Parker to engineer a one-on-one with Scott Carson, who made a smart save at the feet of the young midfielder.

Moments later, it was the Baggies who could well have gone in front with some wiser decision-making from Fortune. James Morrison and Jonathan Greening combined brilliantly to release the

Frenchman in the area, but he screwed a shot into the side netting with Brunt screaming for a pass in the centre of the goalmouth.

Albion felt aggrieved on 24 minutes when they won a corner on the right, Brunt swung it in and Robinson appeared to be nudged by Lucas Neill.

But referee Mark Halsey waved away the typically angry screams from Albion's fiery full-back. It was a wide-open game but Albion were dominating the clear chances and they had another glorious opportunity before the half-hour.

The Hammers defence opened up in Albion-esque fashion, allowing Morrison to weave 25 yards into the area only for his left-footed shot to be kept out by the legs of the sprawling Green.

Albion continued to apply pressure to a West Ham side who were robbed on 29 minutes of the services of Matthew Upson, who over-stretched and was carried off.

But Green was equal to the challenge again as he scooped away a dangerous Brunt cross.

That was the signal for West Ham to increase their own tempo and Martis – a shock inclusion in the Albion side – had to do well to deflect a Sears shot for a corner, from which Albion had to scramble away a free header from Neill.

It was the home side who started the second half strongest with Albion backing off Sears, only for David Di Michele to blast over having been teed up by his strike partner.

But six minutes after the restart and the visitors went within a hair's breadth of the opening goal, after some clever footwork on the left from Brunt.

His stood an inviting cross up to the far post, where Martis leaped highest and planted a header against the crossbar.

Green was clattered in the aftermath by Olsson, but the England keeper was able to return quickly to the fray.

Dorrans had been quiet in an attacking sense for the first hour, but some jinking play on the edge of the box from the young Scot almost reaped reward for Albion.

The ball broke from a tackle to the feet of Koren and he saw a low drive from 25 yards deflected wide.

With 19 minutes remaining, Albion had another good opportunity when Brunt and Morrison linked up to feed Greening in the box, but the Albion captain took the ball too wide and lifted a left-footed shot over.

Chances were few and far between for the home side but they gave the Baggies a nervous moment with 14 minutes to go, when Herita Ilungu delivered a cross from the left and Di Michele sent a header just wide of the far post.

There was another nervous moment for the Baggies, when Robinson handed the Hammers a needless corner with four minutes to go, but the flag-kick was cleared by Greening at the near post.

At the other end, Dorrans blasted a long-range shot just wide before Albion won a dangerous free-kick, only for Zuiverloon to hammer his cross too far as the visitors ended strongly.

By Steve Madeley