EPL REVIEW- WESTBROM 0 MIDDLESBOROUGH 0- BAGGIES EARN A POINT FROM A BOREFEST AT THE HAWTHORNS

There were loud boos at the end of a stalemate that lacked anything to excite or indicate quite why Sky had deemed it a fixture worthy of live broadcast and Wednesday night’s transfer deadline looms larger than ever.

West Brom are a tight unit and kept their second clean sheet of the season to move to four points but are in drastic need of creativity and flair. That has been at the crux of the discord between Pulis and West Brom’s fans since his arrival but the Welshman knows as much and has been trying to make signings all summer.

For Boro, the picture is rosier, even if they are only a point ahead. They remain unbeaten and moved up to sixth at the final whistle.

Aitor Karanka may be active too in the next 72 hours but he has done his business early and successfully. Pulis meanwhile has endured his most frustrating transfer market as a manager and his desire still for four new players was partly reflected in the team he picked for this game.

Sam Field, an 18-year-old midfielder from the academy, was given his full Premier League debut, and Brendan Galloway, 20, started a top-flight match for the first time since moving from Everton on loan.

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

 West Brom (4-2-3-1): Foster 6.5; Dawson 7, McAuley 7, Evans 7, Galloway 7.5; Yacob 6.5, Field 7; Phillips 6.5, Fletcher 6.5 (Gardner 76’ 6), McClean 6.5 (Leko 64’ 5 (Berahino 72’ 5)); Rondon 6

Booked: Yacob

Subs not used: Rose, Olsson, Lambert, Wilson

Tony Pulis 6

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Guzan 6; Nsue 6, Ayala 6, Gibson 6, Barragan 7; Forshaw 6.5, Clayton 6.5; Stuani 6 (Fischer 90’), Ramirez 6.5 (Nugent 84’), Downing 6; Negredo 6

Booked: Ayala, Ramirez, Barragan

Subs not used: Konstantopoulos, Espinosa, Rhodes, Reach, De Sart

Aitor Karanka 6

Referee: Anthony Taylor 7

Att: 23,690

MoM: Galloway

+20

Kane Wilson, the 16-year-old bidding to become the Premier League’s first Millennium baby, was named on the bench and it all looked rather youthful for a Pulis side with Saido Berahino dropped to the bench and James Morrison left out completely after playing in Tuesday’s League Cup defeat to Northampton.

That result on penalties raised once more the discussions about the club’s direction among West Brom fans, who have never warmed to Pulis despite two seasons of safety.

Yet the hosts did begin this encounter on the front foot, forcing a booking after just 65 seconds for Daniel Ayala, who chopped down Galloway as the left back broke forwards.

Darren Fletcher watches his pass to its eventual destination, while Middlesbrough's Adam Forshaw gets ready to react

In the fifth minute James McClean charged across the pitch past three defenders and into the box, only to be stopped from shooting by Antonio Barragan’s well-timed challenge.

McClean did get a finish away seven minutes later, dabbing an effort when found by Darren Fletcher’s chip into the area. But Brad Guzan, the subject of ‘Villa reject’ taunts from West Brom fans behind his goal, spread himself well to block.

That early excitement did not last and with Boro failing to impose themselves as an attacking threat the game drifted into extreme tedium. The best the visitors could muster was a burst by Alvaro Negredo that was ultimately thwarted by Craig Dawson.

Credit- Mail Sport