A low ball across the face of goal is agonisingly just out of Mbaye Diagne's reach.

A foul by Conor Gallagher, which earns him the game's first booking, then eases the pressure on the Aston Villa goal for the time being.

West Brom are pushing for more to avoid any late heartbreak and Callum Robinson hits a snapshot from just outside the box but Emi Martinez holds at his near post.

So far, the stats do have it down as a Mbaye Diagne goal, and what an important goal it could be.

Still a long, long way to go in this one. How are your nerves, West Brom fans?

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

That was a finish of a man in confident form, not someone who has been so out of touch.

It takes a wicked deflection off Tyrone Mings. He's really unlucky.

As an ex-striker that's Diagne's goal not an own goal.

Got to be more goals in this one.

We're back under way.

Imran: Why is no one talking about how ridiculous that penalty decision was in favour of WBA? Blatant diving like that is embarrassing.

Tommy: Forget the ESL, some of these penalties are ruining football! I don't blame the refs or VAR per se, but if the ref takes a look at the monitor then I think there's a chance both get overturned

Image source, ..

This is how things look at the bottom of the table as things stand. It has been a very good performance by West Brom but they need more than that in the next 45 minutes if they are to keep their survival hopes alive.

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Sam Allardyce will go into the dressing room and tell his players that they've been the better team. They just need to keep going, keep believing.

A very decent first half comes to an end.

All square and all to play for in the second half.

Image source, Getty Images

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Oh my gosh!

I think he was crossing it but still, he's unlucky to hit the crossbar there.

A good passage of play from Aston Villa ends with Anwar El Ghazi standing up a decent ball for Ollie Watkins but he can't get enough on his header to trouble Sam Johnstone.

And now Matheus Pereira hits the woodwork with a free kick!

Aston Villa can't handle the Brazilian and it is West Brom who are finishing the half strongly.

Wonderful footwork by Matheus Pereira - who for me is by far the best player on the pitch this evening - gets him away from his marker by the corner flag and he plays a low ball into the box that Ainsley Maitland-Niles runs onto and smashes a powerful effort at goal that Emi Martinez does superbly to punch away.

Mbaye Diagne wins a corner for West Brom with half time approaching. Conor Gallagher sends in a decent delivery but Tyrone Mings heads away.

I am sure you are all pondering just when was the last time two sides scored a penalty in a Premier League game before the 23rd minute.

Well, it was in May 2013, when QPR and Newcastle scored a penalty apiece before the 18th minute.

Use this new-found knowledge wisely.

Aston Villa are almost caught out by a quick West Brom free kick as Matheus Pereira is sent charging towards goal. He tries to slip in Callum Robinson but Ezri Konsa is just about able to deal with the danger.