BBC SPORT | Football | Eng Prem | Villa rue penalty miss

West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Aston Villa

Dion Dublin missed a penalty for Aston Villa as their Midlands derby at West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns ended goalless.

Dublin saw his spot-kick saved by Baggies keeper Russell Hoult after home defender Darren Moore - a boyhood Villa fan - had brought down Gareth Barry.

The visitors had felt they should have had a penalty earlier in the game when Phil Gilchrist looked to have upended Mark Delaney only for the referee to wave away their appeals.

We have got to improve on our quality

West Brom manager
Gary Megson

The result leaves Villa as the only Premiership club without an away league win this season.

And, while they had the perfect chance to change that record, they were fortunate home striker Jason Roberts was not sharp enough to take his chances.

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In the first derby between the club's for 17 years, Villa keeper Peter Enckelman had to save a shot from Neil Clement before denying Roberts from the rebound.

The visitors were again on the backfoot when Roberts charged towards the Villa goal from the halfway line.

He left two defenders trailing in his wake before lifting his shot over the bar from 10 yards when he should have rewarded the Baggies' bright start with a goal.

West Brom keeper Russell Hoult (left), defender Darren Moore (middle) and Villa's Marcus Allback
Moore steps in between Hoult and Allback as tempers flare

Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger responded by shooting wide before forcing home keeper Russell Hoult into turning his free-kick around the post.

Roberts could have atoned for his earlier miss on two occasions but the outstretched leg of defender Olof Mellberg and then a Delaney vital block came to Villa's rescue.

West Brom might have felt hard done by that they were not ahead but the home team breathed a sigh of relief when Villa were denied a penalty prior to half-time.

Delaney went down in the home penalty area after a challenge from defender Gilchrist, back in the Baggies team after a shin injury, but no spot-kick was awarded.

In the last 20 minutes I felt we were stronger and I was a bit disappointed not to get the victory

Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor

West Brom continued to force the issue and press for a first win since mid-September.

Manager Gary Megson's players worked themselves into promising positions only for their passing in the crucial final third of the field letting them down.

Villa almost took advantage when midfielder Barry was brought down by West Brom's Moore only for Dublin to see his 12-yard effort saved by keeper Hoult.

Dublin would have scored his 100th Premiership goal if he had converted the penalty.

West Brom: Hoult, Moore, Gilchrist (Adam Chambers 77), Sigurdsson, Balis, McInnes, Johnson, Gregan (Dichio 71), Clement, Roberts, Dobie (Hughes 67).
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Wallwork.

Booked: Gregan, Dichio.

Aston Villa: Enckelman, Delaney, Mellberg, Johnsen (Staunton 39), Samuel (Hendrie 60), Leonhardsen, Taylor, Hitzlsperger, Barry, Dublin, Allback (Vassell 60).
Subs Not Used: Angel, Postma.

Booked: Johnsen, Taylor, Barry.

Attendance: 27,091.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).


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