West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City shared the spoils in an all-Midlands affair at The Hawthorns after playing out a goalless draw which lifted the hosts out of the Championship's relegation zone.

West Brom dropped into the bottom three on Tuesday night, after relegation rivals Blackburn Rovers added to rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday's woes. But a point in this game and results elsewhere on Saturday ensured they climbed above managerless Rovers and Leicester City into 20th.

Stoke may consider this two points dropped in their pursuit of a play-off place, but they continue to boast the Championship's best defensive record, having conceded only 28 goals, coupled with 12 clean sheets.

Albion boss Eric Ramsay, still hunting for his first win in charge since replacing Ryan Mason last month, made a host of changes which included a senior debut for Aston Villa loanee Jamal Jimoh-Aloba and a rare start for USA international Daryl Dike.

After a scrappy opening period, in which both sides struggled to maintain possession in wintry conditions, Baggies captain Jed Wallace produced the first meaningful effort on goal shortly after the half-hour mark when he carried the ball to the edge of the Stoke penalty area, but his effort trickled past Tommy Simkin's far post.

The Potters, who are slowly gathering personnel in the midst of an injury crisis in recent weeks, did work Max O'Leary in the home goal before the break, but efforts from Bosun Lawal and Sorba Thomas were comfortably held.

And it was West Brom who came closest in the opening 45 minutes when Jimoh-Aloba – who was sold by the club to Villa for £1m in the summer of 2023 – burst forwards and let fly, which forced Simkin to react quickly and tip the attacker's strike over the bar.

Stoke did threaten to break the deadlock just after the hour mark. Debutant Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who joined the club on loan at the end of the winter transfer window from Crystal Palace, spread the ball to Aaron Cresswell, and he picked out Lawal at the back post, but the Irish defender miscued his shot when well placed.

Ramsay rolled the dice when throwing on attackers Mikey Johnston, Aune Heggebo and Josh Maja on the hour, but it was a visiting substitute who almost snatched a late winner when winger Million Manhoef gave Callum Styles the slip and stung O'Leary's gloves.

For the home side, who visit neighbours Birmingham City on Tuesday night, it was a rare clean sheet, although they are now without a win in their past seven league matches. Stoke, who visit Charlton Athletic on Wednesday, are 13th, nestled in the congested pack who sit within reach of the top six.

West Bromwich Albion boss Eric Ramsay told BBC WM:

"Reflecting on the game, other than the result, it was what we wanted. We wanted to make sure that the performance felt different, and I'm in no doubt it did. The first half was very good.

"What was lacking at Portsmouth wasn't lacking today, and the fact we were able to get a first clean sheet in 11… we looked a team who were desperate to keep the ball out of the net. That's exactly what was required.

"We have set out to become a difficult team to beat and to play against. That hasn't been the case in the first four games [under me], but it has today.

"It wasn't a spectacular performance. We were lacking in terms of how much we could create, but the clean sheet and lack of chances we gave away, they were important ingredients in our performance."

Stoke City boss Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:

"It was a rubbish game. I did not enjoy it at all. A clean sheet, a point on the road... you've got to take it. The support was great.

"For whatever reason, we turned the ball over too often, in good areas. I keep saying the same thing - we've got loads of injuries, we've got people coming back from injury. We've got players coming in from abroad, we've got players who haven't played since December, in the case of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

"It takes time to knit things together. We didn't mount any sort of attack in the first half which was massively disappointing, but we couldn't do it because we couldn't build. The change at half-time helped us get closer to their goal.

"What we don't want or advocate is that we're ponderous on the ball... we need to pass the ball better, do things with a little more urgency. They have to understand how to do it, and that is the work we have to do moving forwards. It was a difficult watch."