West Brom striker Karlan Grant (centre) was unable to add to his early-season tally of two goals
West Bromwich Albion are still searching for their first Championship win of the season after they were held to a goalless draw at home to Cardiff City.
Both sides had chances in an open first half, with the hosts' captain Jake Livermore forcing Ryan Allsop into a save and Sheyi Ojo firing narrowly wide for Cardiff.
Genuine scoring opportunities were at a premium after the break, until Allsop palmed away a 90th-minute header from Semi Ajayi.
While West Brom remain winless in the Championship, a draw was just reward for another encouraging performance from Steve Morison's improving Cardiff, who now have seven points from four games.
Their opponents at the Hawthorns were among the pre-season favourites for promotion but had started slowly with two draws and a defeat in their opening three league matches.
On this occasion, however, Steve Bruce's men burst out of the blocks and took control of the early exchanges.
Helped by a hesitant Cardiff side who kept losing possession as they tried to play their way out of defence, the Baggies pressed their opponents high up the pitch and created chances for Livermore and Conor Townsend.
Cardiff settled as the first half wore on, with Ojo counter-attacking well and drawing fouls by Dara O'Shea and Livermore which resulted in yellow cards.
After Ojo himself was bizarrely booked after being robustly tackled by Livermore, the former Liverpool winger had the visitors' best chance of the half, side-footing narrowly wide after he was teed up inside the penalty area by Jaden Philogene.
Ojo curled another effort wide after the break as Cardiff grew in confidence. Callum O'Dowda, on for Jamilu Collins after the Nigerian's fifth-minute knee injury, was particularly impressive at left-back.
- Cardiff await extent of Collins knee injury
West Brom struggled to recreate the intensity of their first-half showing, though Ajayi provided a reminder of the hosts' set-piece threat when his header from a 70th-minute corner was held by Allsop.
The centre-back had an even better chance in the final minute as he met a cross by Callum Robinson, but Allsop pushed his header away to secure a well-earned point for Cardiff.
West Brom manager Steve Bruce said: "We simply didn't play well enough.
"After some really good performances against Watford and then Blackburn, unfortunately, that one tonight was completely different. That's the frustrating thing.
"We haven't got beaten in the game, but we certainly haven't done enough to win it and I have to be as honest as that."
Cardiff manager Steve Morison told BBC Radio Wales: "It's a great point. This is a tough place to come.
"We had to deal with pressure in the first 20 minutes and, off the back of that, it was a pretty even game. It shows how far we've come.
"To come away from West Brom with a point, you'd be pleased. A draw was about a fair result."
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsWest Brom
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Button2Furlong6Ajayi4O'Shea3Townsend35Yokuslu8Livermore17J Wallace19Swift11Diangana18Grant
- 1Button2Furlong6Ajayi4O'SheaBooked at 21mins3Townsend35Yokuslu8LivermoreBooked at 31minsSubstituted forMolumbyat 45'minutesBooked at 54mins17J WallaceSubstituted forPhillipsat 68'minutes19SwiftSubstituted forRobinsonat 68'minutes11Diangana18GrantSubstituted forReachat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Bartley7Robinson10Phillips14Molumby20Reach24Palmer29Gardner-Hickman
Cardiff
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Allsop2Romeo38Ng26Simpson17Collins35Rinomhota6Wintle10Ojo8Ralls25Philogene-Bidace36Watters
- 1AllsopBooked at 72mins2Romeo38NgBooked at 48mins26Simpson17CollinsSubstituted forO'Dowdaat 9'minutes35Rinomhota6Wintle10OjoBooked at 33minsSubstituted forColwillat 75'minutes8RallsSubstituted forSawyersat 64'minutes25Philogene-BidaceSubstituted forM Harrisat 75'minutes36WattersSubstituted forEteteat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Etete11O'Dowda15Denham19Sawyers21Alnwick27Colwill29M Harris
Referee:Andy MadleyAttendance:21,820Match StatsHome TeamWest BromAway TeamCardiffPossessionHome55%Away45%ShotsHome13Away7Shots on TargetHome5Away0CornersHome9Away2FoulsHome12Away10Live TextPost update
Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, Cardiff City 0.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, Cardiff City 0.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt saved. Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
90'+4'Post update
Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Kion Etete (Cardiff City).
90'+3'Post update
Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Mark Harris (Cardiff City).
90'+1'Post update
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Ryan Allsop.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt saved. Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum Robinson with a cross.
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Phillips.
89'Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Wintle (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mark Harris.
87'Post update
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Kion Etete.
84'Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Adam Reach replaces Karlan Grant.
84'Post update
Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Dara O'Shea tries a through ball, but Callum Robinson is caught offside.
82'Post update
Foul by Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion).
82'Post update
Mahlon Romeo (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81'Post update
Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81'Post update
Foul by Mark Harris (Cardiff City).
80'Post update
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Perry Ng.
75'Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Mark Harris replaces Jaden Philogene-Bidace.
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Source: bbc.com