Former WBA and Villa forward Kevin Phillips at Villa Park
BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

"I think Tony Pulis is just slightly out doing Tim Sherwood (with his touchline antics) at the moment because his team have been the better in these 37/38 minutes. He won't be pleased that his side aren't going to go in at least a goal up."

Villa's first attack in a long time comes from a quick turnover of possession in the centre, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fabian Delph link up well but Delph's delivery is poor. Villa then waste a free-kick out wide. A real lack of quality so far from the home side. You can evidently see why they've scored so few goals.

West Brom now well on top, some nervous energy across the stands inside Villa Park. Without Christian Benteke the home side have no out ball. A half-time change may be needed.

Shay Given being kept busy now. Chris Brunt hits a strike into the head of team-mate Jonas Olsson, it loops up and forces Given into tipping over the top. Good stop!

Former WBA and Villa forward Kevin Phillips at Villa Park
BBC Radio 5 live

"It was another wonderful chance. It was too easy to get the cross in, Fabian Delph had sold himself. Brown Ideye should be sitting on two goals for me."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Villa Park

"Gabriel Agbonlahor's pace was Aston Villa's main source of danger here on Tuesday but he has been kept well under control so far today. No chances since that early miss from Brown Ideye - indeed Villa have yet to create a worthwhile opportunity. Albion the better side but still as tight as you would expect from a derby FA Cup quarter-final."

After a fair few minutes of nothingness, West Brom do create an opportunity. Craig Dawson - who all logic tells you should be useless at full-back, but actually is useful - beats his man and puts in a telling cross which Brown Ideye heads at Shay Given. Great ball, deserved better.

Image source, Getty Images

The only real incident of note so far has been a bad miss from Brown Ideye - and you can now watch it in the highlights tab at the top of the screen.

James Morrison took that win on points, he physically dragged Claudio Yacob across the pitch. One for Tony Pulis to calm down at the interval.

Can someone take the game in hand though? It's drifting along at the minute.

Former WBA and Villa forward Kevin Phillips at Villa Park
BBC Radio 5 live

"You saw West Brom midfielder James Morrison having a real go at his own player Claudio Yacob. He was chasing after the ball and not keeping his shape. They would have worked on that all week and if you don't keep you shape Villa can pop balls in behind you."

Image source, Reuters

The optimism of the opening 10 minutes is fading away as we settle into a rather tepid midfield game. The first goal could be crucial but neither side look likely just now.

Former WBA and Villa forward Kevin Phillips at Villa Park
BBC Radio 5 live

"You have to try and keep the whole squad happy in the Premier League and it's a great opportunity to give your second keeper [Boaz Myhill] a run in the cup games. It will be interesting to see if they go all the way to the final what they will do. But Ben Foster is a great goalkeeper and he will get over that mistake the other night."

The referee has to stop play for a second to remove a beachball from the pitch - where's Darren Bent when you need him?!

Image source, AFP

Better from Villa in the last few minutes, Gabriel Agbonlahor has seen more of the ball and captain Fabian Delph is taking charge in midfield. They are yet to test Albion keeper Boaz Myhill though.

Brian Fagan:, external Shame Shay Given wasted so much of his later career sitting on Man City's and Villa's bench. Fantastic keeper.

Rich:, external Tim Sherwood clearly a student of the Kevin Keegan school of 'kick every ball' management.

Get involved via #bbcfootball,, external text us on 81111 (UK only) or pop your anecdote down on the BBC Sport Facebook, external and Google+ pages.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Villa Park

"West Brom barely got out of the blocks in the first half on Tuesday. Not a bit of it here as they have been much the livelier side in the opening phase. Brown Ideye had to score with that early chance.

"Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood got under the skin of West Brom's fans by describing them as a "good little club" this week - and they are letting him know as much in very loud and colourful terms."

James Morrison gets the away fans into even louder voice by sprinting back and dispossessing Tom Cleverley, he then turns off and hares down the line himself until Charles N'Zogbia takes him out. Bad tackle - booking.

Former WBA and Villa forward Kevin Phillips at Villa Park
BBC Radio 5 live

"It's a huge blow missing Christian Benteke. We are only 10 minutes or so in but you can already see Villa are struggling to get forward. They have sort of gone back to the Paul Lambert way of keeping possession but not really making any attacking headway."

Image source, Reuters

A half-hearted penalty appeal is waved away as West Brom cause havoc from a free-kick, Tony Pulis will be delighted with this start. By far the better side in the opening 12 minutes.

Villa counter well and Scott Sinclair wins a corner with some good work. A nice touch as the whole of Villa Park stand in support of former Albion favourite, and number nine, Jeff Astle. Rivalry quite rightly put to one side for a minute.