Callum Robinson (right) was making his first return to The Hawthorns since leaving for Cardiff in August 2022
West Bromwich Albion’s winless run stretched to six games as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Cardiff City.
The hosts missed several chances in an open first half, while Cardiff’s former Baggies forward Callum Robinson headed against the crossbar.
Albion kept applying pressure after the break, with Grady Diangana’s curling left-footed shot brilliantly saved by Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, who also saved Baggies top scorer Josh Maja's header.
The Baggies drop one place to fifth in the Championship table, while Cardiff move down one to 20th.
For Carlos Corberan, this was a frustrating way to celebrate his two-year anniversary as Albion boss, a considerable milestone considering that, since 2000, only Gary Megson and Tony Mowbray have managed to go into a third year in charge at The Hawthorns.
As for Cardiff interim manager Omer Riza, this creditable result took his points tally to 11 from his six games at the helm to boost his chances of getting the job permanently.
- Published25 October
- Published25 October
- Published21 October
Riza is now unbeaten in five matches and, although Corberan’s Baggies have closed the gap on the automatic promotion spots to three points, they will be concerned with a fourth successive draw and a fourth game in five in which they have failed to score.
An entertaining start to the game featured chances for both teams, with home captain Darnell Furlong heading wide from six yards before a header by Cardiff’s Robinson clipped the bar.
Furlong had another two efforts – one wide, the other saved by Alnwick – and the Cardiff skipper saved well from John Swift, but somehow the game remained goalless at the break.
Albion stepped up the pressure in the second half, but Robinson missed another chance to score against his old side when he failed to connect with Ollie Tanner’s cross before firing wide.
Alnwick then made the save of the game on 68 minutes when he kept out Diangana’s strike, which looked destined for the far corner of the net.
The Cardiff keeper was kept busy but, other than that stop from Diangana, Alnwick was not often overly stretched.
Maja headed a late chance straight at Alnwick and the home side had several corners as they searched for a late winner, but their efforts were in vain.
While West Brom fired a frustrating fourth blank in five games, their opponents could reflect with some pride on a fourth clean sheet from six under Riza.
Post-match reaction
West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio WM:
“We controlled the game, especially in the first half. We didn’t finish the chances and that’s why we don’t have more points.
“It’s important to defend well and attack well. We created some good chances but didn’t score. At the same time, the team defended well.
“There are good things but I’m never going to only take the good things because there are things we need to do better. I understand when you don’t win there is frustration.”
Cardiff City interim manager Omer Riza told BBC Radio Wales:
“It’s a great point. We knew it was going to be really difficult. It’s a tough place to come. Carlos and his staff have assembled a really good, resilient side.
“We knew we’d have our moments and we created enough opportunities to score a goal, but we weren’t clinical enough.
“We had to defend really well to get a clean sheet. It was a different mentality. Clean sheets are really important. The boys were brilliant.”
