Match Reports

Albion 0-0 Cardiff

An image of Uros Racic passing the ball against Cardiff

Albion and Cardiff City played out a goalless encounter at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon.

The teams could not be separated in the Sky Bet Championship clash, meaning the Baggies have now drawn four consecutive games in a row.

Next up, Carlos Corberán’s men travel down to Luton Town this Friday.

An image of John Swift taking on a Cardiff player

The boss made three changes to his starting XI - bringing in Uros Racic, John Swift and Mikey Johnston - and was also forced into a fourth-minute switch when the injured Paddy McNair had to be replaced by Callum Styles.

It was an eventful start as Johnston saw an early finish saved, though was flagged for offside, before Josh Maja nearly guided a cross home, his boot inches away from connecting to the ball.

The pressure soon continued when successive Darnell Furlong and Semi Ajayi headers went wide - but Albion also needed to remain alert down the other end, with former Baggie Callum Robinson nodding against the crossbar and Cardiff’s Anwar El Ghazi firing off-target.

There were a few more Albion openings, notably Swift having a shot deflected past the post after a lovely, flowing move, and Bluebirds goalkeeper Jak Alnwick keeping out Furlong’s venomous volley.

An image of Callum Styles running past a Cardiff player

So, no goals during the first period - and Cardiff were the ones to create an early second-half chance, Robinson scuffing an opportunity inside the box.

However, the Baggies soon stepped up, threatening via Grady Diangana on the 68-minute mark. The winger brilliantly controlled Racic’s pass and fired towards the top corner, only to see Jak Alnwick tip it just wide.

Corberán introduced Tom Fellows and Karlan Grant in attack, and they pushed desperately for a winner throughout most of the final stages. 

Chris Willock did chip over Alex Palmer’s net in a rare City venture forward - while Maja probably had Albion’s best opening, yet Alnwick held his 90th minute header. Ultimately the deadlock remained unbroken, and proceedings finished goalless in the Black Country.

Albion: Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi (Holgate 79), McNair (Styles 4’), Heggem; Racic, Mowatt; Diangana (Grant 79), Swift, Johnston (Fellows 71); Maja.

Substitutes: Wildsmith, Diakite, Molumby, Wallace, Cole.