West Brom picked up a vital point in their battle to stay in the Barclays Premiership but remain in the bottom three after failing to cash in on their dominance against David O'Leary's patched-up Aston Villa side.

Villa, without six first-team players, were second-best for the majority of the 90 minutes against a more committed and determined Baggies.

But a combination of last-ditch defending and some fine saves from Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen denied them a second away win of the campaign.

Ronnie Wallwork won the midfield battle for Albion, although his 10th booking of the campaign means he will have to serve a two-match suspension. And the recalled Neil Clement was excellent at the heart of the visitors' back four despite the efforts of Villa striker Kevin Phillips, who had his side's best two chances.

A misjudgement from Villa centre-back Liam Ridgewell almost proved costly after only three minutes. Ridgewell inexplicably made no effort to clear a harmless-looking ball into the box and Diomansy Kamara was quick to take advantage.

The Senegal international cut back inside after leaving Ridgewell sprawling on the floor and it needed Aaron Hughes to put in an important block tackle as he lined up a shot.

Villa nearly took the lead in the 19th minute when Phillips hooked a loose ball in the Albion box onto the crossbar following a centre from Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Villa started to come more into the game and the best clear-cut chance to date fell to Phillips in the 40th minute after Agbonlahor burst down the left.

The youngster turned the ball across the area, Milan Baros stepped over it to leave Phillips with a clear shot at goal but Tomasz Kuszczak managed to block his first-time drive.

Wallwork was booked for chopping down Baros in first-half injury-time and his 10th booking of the season means he will now have to serve a two-game ban.

Albion continued to dominate after the break and Sorensen went down to his right to cling onto a low drive at the base of a post from Kamara after Jonathan Greening had turned the ball back into his path.

Albion fans appealed in vain for a penalty after a challenge by Ridgewell on Kamara while Greening should have gone for goal himself from a Gera cross instead of trying to pick out one of his team-mates

The Baggies had their tails up and again penalty claims for handball by Hughes were rejected by referee Mark Halsey.

Villa were left hanging on desperately for a point in the final stages. A Wallwork drive was blocked after Sorensen had flapped at a Greening corner and Cahill cleared a Watson volley off the line.

Albion were now in total command and Sorensen kept out a Gera header with a reflex save.