Villa, West Brom in stalemate

West Brom were offering nothing in attack, but Villa were unable to take full advantage and although they will be satisfied with extending their recent unbeaten run to five games in all competitions, they will consider this a missed opportunity against their local rivals.

Tony Pulis’ side will be full of confidence having returned to winning ways in midweek, with Salomon Rondon’s first goal in three months giving them a 1-0 win against Bristol City in the FA Cup.

That nearly proved to be a stroke of fortune when Richards met Veretout’s corner in the final 10 minutes, yet he directed his header over to ensure Garde’s wait for a first away win in English football goes on.

However, they do struggle to score goals at times, with Pulis’ methods not always brilliant for strikers, and star player Saido Berahino desperately out of form as he angles for a transfer away from the club. I think it’s not a short-term view that I heard yesterday – it’s a long-term view. My job is to do the best with the players I have in the team.

“I am in a position to be criticised but I won’t complain about that”.

Pulis said: “We looked very, very solid defensively but we just didn’t create anything ourselves going the other way”. If internally the mentality is that we are down, we might as well not play the last five months of the season. I am here to give my best. He needs this season to get his feet on the ground and get used to it.

Garde explained he would be kept around the first team squad in an effort to bring through is clear potential and talent, and of course we’ve seen that in full flow previously in his games but undoubtedly that hasn’t come through consistently enough.

Although the last two matches have not been ideal performances from the 26-year-old, it was a massive improvement on the man he replaced, Rudy Gestede. “That’s what teams have to do sometimes, you have to grind a result out”. If not, we would be in big trouble’.