West Brom captain Darren Fletcher has a go from 20 yards after shaking his marker but Villa keeper Brad Guzan tips it wide.

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane is here today. Irish fans will be hoping he'll be having talks with Jack Grealish afterwards but more likely is he's here to watch West Brom winger James McClean and Villa's (benched) defender Ciaran Clark.

Image source, Getty Images

Garth Crooks
Final Score

"A tremendous block from Yacob - West Brom are still in this game because of it."

You can enjoy analysis and reaction on Final Score via the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page.

Villa's best spell so far by far. Gabriel Agbonlahor goes down the left and pulls it back to Carles Gil but the Spaniard's shot is blocked bravely by Claudio Yacob. That was goalbound - a crucial block. And a replay shows it was actually the Argentine's, um, special area that the ball hit. He looks in some discomfort.

Claudio Yacob tries to run the ball out of defence for West Brom but Villa win the ball and Jack Grealish finds Ashley Westwood who blazes over from 25 yards. That's Villa's first shot today.

That Chris Brunt booking is actually been the first big foul I can remember so far in this game. Not what you'd expect from a West Midlands derby.

Martin Keown
BBC Radio 5 live

"Slow and steady build-up from West Brom. Pulis wants his players to keep it simple, but that means none of them are expressing themselves."

You can listen to live commentary of this fixture via the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page.

West Brom's Chris Brunt, playing at left-back, is booked for wiping out Scott Sinclair who was just about to speed away from him near halfway.

Craig Dawson's cross comes into Saido Berahino but he can't quite control it and keeper Brad Guzan collects. Maybe he'd have been a bit fresher if he hadn't been messing about with strike threats.

Image source, Getty Images

Ex-Aston Villa player Andy Blair on BBC WM: "Albion seem so stronger in the way they have started the whole contest."

Sounds like Matt Ritchie has scored a screamer for Bournemouth. Find out what is happening in all today's Premier League games in this live text.

Jack Grealish almost finds Scott Sinclair with a pass forward but West Brom defender Gareth McAuley gets between man and ball to clear the danger.

The Baggies edging possession so far, while Villa have yet to have a shot.

Ivan Gaskell on Final Score:  "Pulis is pulling what little hair he has out..."

From the following corner Joleon Lescott's header is tipped over his own bar by Brad Guzan. But it's actually a free out anyway because Gareth McAuley fouled the ex-West Brom defender.

West Brom work a corner to Chris Brunt, who takes a total air shot from 20 yards out to ironic cheers from the Villa crowd.

But Albion get another corner and Jonny Evans's header is deflected over.

Villa don't have a whole load of goals in this team - their main striker, Gabriel Agbonlahor, has scored four goals in 12 derbies with the Albion.

Image source, PA

Jack Grealish, who scored his first senior goal against Leicester last weekend, plays a ball through to Gabby Agbonlahor but a Baggies defender wins the tackle and gets it away.

Game has calmed down a bit after that dramatic start. Neither side have had long spells of possession really.

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom almost take the lead within the first minute as Chris Brunt's cross is met by the head of Salomon Rondon but luckily for Villa keeper Brad Guzan is able to claw it away.

We are under way. Here's a reminder of the teams.

Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Amavi, Westwood, Sanchez, Grealish, Gil, Agbonlahor, Sinclair. Subs: Clark, Bacuna, Cole, Veretout, Ayew, Bunn, Gestede. 

West Brom: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt, Morrison, Fletcher, Yacob, McClean, Berahino, Rondon. Subs: Olsson, Chester, Gardner, Lambert, McManaman, Lindegaard, Gnabry.