West Bromwich Albion 0
Wolves 0
A late penalty save by Wayne Hennessey meant that Wolves took a fully deserved point from their derby clash with West Bromwich at The Hawthorns.
Although the game finished without a goal, there was plenty of action at both ends. It was the first time that the Baggies had failed to score at home since April.
Mick McCarthy made just one change to his starting line up with Darron Gibson coming in for Freddy Eastwood as the Wolves boss opted for a 4-5-1 formation.
Wolves kicked-off attacking the Smethwick end and Darren Ward had to clear an early cross from Chris Brunt. For the visitors Gibson was well wide with a shot from distance.
In the seventh minute Gibson's challenge on Brunt led to a free-kick to the right of the Wolves' area. Brunt lifted the ball into the heart of the box and Hennessey had to turn behind Neill Collins' attempted clearance. Brunt's corner came to nothing.
Seyi Olofinjana sent Michael Kightly away down the right but his cross sailed through the area to the far side and Jay Bothroyd's attempted return went behind.
Ishmael Miller failed to take advantage of a lucky bounce by screwing a shot wide after Darren Ward's clearance had cannoned off Robert Koren and ran into the striker's path.
Then Filipe Teixera blazed a shot high over the bar from just 10-yards out after he ran in onto Brunt's low cross.
In the 22nd minute Wolves were inches away from taking the lead when Jody Craddock headed against the outside of the post following a Bothroyd corner.
Darren Ward came to the rescue when he halted Miller's run into the Wolves area at the expense of a corner and then a Jonathan Greening shot from 25-yards struck Craddock and flew wide of the post with Hennessey stranded.
Albion were enjoying their best spell of the game and there was another moment of danger when Miller held off two challenges before firing into the arms of Hennessey.
After absorbing the home pressure Wolves broke clear though Olofinjana who threaded a pass to Kightly on the right. The Nigerian continued his run and was in position to get in a diving header from Kightly's centre but his effort was wide of the mark.
Teixeira was too high with a 20-yard effort before Paul Robinson had to head the ball over his own crossbar as Bothroyd homed in on Stephen Ward's cross.
Ward was unlucky in the 42nd minute after a Bothroyd corner had been half cleared to him. His low shot looked destined for the net until it hit Leon Barnett and went behind for another corner.
Just before the break Greening was penalised for hands just outside the home box and Gibson was a yard wide after Karl Henry had touched the ball to him.
Half-Time: Albion 0 Wolves 0
Kightly joined Bothroyd up front at the start of the new half as Wolves moved to a 4-4-2 formation.
Robinson appeared to tug at Kightly's shirt as the pair ran down the middle chasing Stephen Ward's through ball but it was the Wolves man who was penalised as the duo ran into the area.
Hennessey made a superb fingertip save to deny Teixeira in the 55th minute. The Portuguese midfielder turned Darren Ward and curled a shot that Hennessey touched onto the post - the ball rebounding to safety on the far side.
After the referee had applied the advantage rule, Olofinjana was booked for attempting to pull back Greening and, after had Kightly limped off to be replaced by Eastwood, Teixeira was yellow carded for a high challenge on Darren Ward on the edge of the Wolves area. The incident sparked a brief melee involving several players but order was soon restored.
Stephen Elliott replaced the limping Bothroyd in the 63rd minute and Albion swapped Craig Beattie for Brunt moments later.
A free-kick from Gibson was half cleared to Elliott whose fierce drive was blocked by Robinson and when play switched to the other end Teixeira's dummy allowed Greening's pass to run through to Beattie but Hennessey had spotted the danger and he saved at the striker's feet.
Eastwood beat the offside trap to the right of the Albion goal but Dean Kiely blocked his shot at the near post before diving onto the loose ball.
Robinson headed wide following a Greenwood corner and then Olofinjana missed a golden opportunity as he connected with Gibson's cross but his sidefooted shot went into the side netting.
Five minutes from time it looked as if all of Wolves' efforts were to lead to nothing when West Bromwich were awarded a penalty after Collins had pulled back Beattie who was running away from goal.
But, to the delight of the travelling supporters behind him, Hennessey guessed correctly by diving to his right to turn away Zoltan Gera's spot kick.
Albion: Kiely, Hoefkens, Robinson, Barnett, Koren, Greening (capt), Gera, Miller (Bednar 83), Teixeira (MacDonald 77), Cesar, Brunt (Beattie 69).
Unused subs: Steele, Pele.
Booking: Teixeira (62 - foul).
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, D. Ward, Craddock (capt), N. Collins, Kightly (Eastwood 61), Olofinjana, Henry, Bothroyd (Elliott 63), Gibson, S. Ward.
Unused subs: Potter, Stack, Gray.
Booking: Olofinjana (58 - foul).
Referee: C. Foy.
Attendance: 27,493.
