The visitors looked livelier as they achieved their fifth game unbeaten but were ultimately unable to nick what would have been a crucial win in their bid for survival
Aston Villa could count themselves unlucky not to have earned a win over West Brom in Saturday's 0-0 Premier League result.
Remi Garde's men largely controlled proceedings but were unable to find a way to breach West Brom's goal, with Rudy Gestede nodding wide and Ben Foster keeping out Ashley Westwood's effort in the second half.
Despite basement side Villa enduring a terrible campaign, Tony Pulis' side have been lacking goals this season and they failed to register a shot on target in a derby they were expected to win.
The likes of £12 million signing Salomon Rondon, who has just three goals to his name since arriving from Zenit, could not find a way past a Villa defence whose frailties have been a major factor in their recent demise.
Pulis introduced Saido Berahino after the hour mark to add some attacking spark, but neither the hosts nor Villa were able to find the breakthrough on what eventually proved to be a frustrating afternoon.
Idrissa Gueye, who came off the bench to score Villa's second in the FA Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers, was restored to the starting line-up, but his industry in midfield went to waste as neither side mustered a shot on goal in the opening 20 minutes.
The first test for Foster in the West Brom goal came when Jordan Ayew broke through and fired a low shot from the edge of the box that was well saved.
Villa pressed again and Carles Gil delivered a dangerous cross, only for Craig Dawson's superb defensive header from underneath his own crossbar to prevent Leandro Bacuna from grabbing the opening goal.
In a first half that offered very little by way of attacking threat, Villa looked marginally the more likely to take the lead, with Ayew, Bacuna and Gil combining to good effect but Libor Kozak struggling to have an impact as a lone frontman.
Dawson flashed a header over the crossbar from James McClean's free-kick early in the second half, before Stephane Sessegnon's 20-yard drive flew wide as the home side began to turn up the heat on their local rivals.
Rondon started to probe at the Villa defence, and he should have hit the target when he met Craig Dawson's cross at the near post and sent a first time shot well wide.
West Brom manager Pulis sent on Berahino and Victor Anichebe to try and turn the game in the final half hour, but it was Villa substitute Gestede who almost opened the scoring, sending a header just wide from Westwood’s cross.
Gestede limped off clutching his hamstring moments later, before Westwood tested Foster himself with a low drive from outside the box, and Micah Richards sent a header just wide from the ensuing corner in the game's final clear chance.
- Goal