Premier League
West BromWest Bromwich Albion0West HamWest Ham United0

West Bromwich Albion 0-0 West Ham United

By Matt DavisBBC Sport
Ben Foster
Ben Foster could have been sent off for his challenge on Javier Hernandez

Gareth Barry can play for "another two or three years" after making a record-equalling 632nd Premier League appearance, says West Brom manager Tony Pulis.

Barry, who shares the record with Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, reached the milestone in Saturday's 0-0 draw against West Ham at The Hawthorns.

The 36-year-old also became the first player to start 600 Premier League games.

Pulis said Barry can continue to play at the highest level because of "the way he looks after himself".

"I am disappointed he is not just starting with us and is coming to the back end of his career," Pulis told BBC Sport.

"He was a player I admired and respected. When we brought him into the club we realised how good he was."

Saturday's match was short on chances, with just two shots on target in the 90 minutes.

West Ham's Pedro Obiang provided the only real moment of quality, catching Ben Foster off his line and hitting the crossbar from just outside the centre circle.

After the break, Foster was perhaps lucky to escape with just a booking as he raced out of his box and lunged at the onrushing Javier Hernandez.

The result moves West Brom into the top half of the table, while the Hammers remain in the bottom three on goal difference.

'A proud moment'

Gareth Barry equals Ryan Giggs' Premier League appearances record

Barry was just 17 when he made his Premier League debut for Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday on 2 May 1998. Boyzone's All That I Need topped the charts at the time, while Tony Blair was prime minister.

Barry played for Everton and Manchester City between his spells at Villa and West Brom, and Saturday's record-equalling appearance came 19 years and 137 days since his debut.

"It's a proud moment for me," said the 36-year-old, who moved to The Hawthorns on a one-year deal in August.

Barry, who sent a first-half header wide, told BBC Sport: "It is a huge number. It is lucky I have managed to keep fit throughout the years. It is not until I look back when I hang my boots up that I will realise what a big number it is.

"I still remember [his debut] so well, so much has happened since, it has gone quick.

"I will stop when I stop enjoying it and I will know when I have had enough and can't keep up with the boys."

Gareth Barry
Barry now and then

Hernandez's struggles

Javier Hernandez
Javier Hernandez's touch map against West Brom

Both teams were lacking in front of goal, with only a tame Michail Antonio shot and a Hal Robson-Kanu header forcing a save from either keeper.

Javier Hernandez was almost anonymous until he was involved in the incident with Foster in the 66th minute. He was substituted for the second game in a row.

The former Manchester United striker, who has scored two goals this season, touched the ball just once in the Baggies box and did not seem to gel with Andy Carroll, who was the focal point of the Hammers' attack.

Another worry for the Londoners will be the fitness of defender James Collins, who limped off in the 58th minute.

"He has damaged the ankle ligaments. We will assess him and see how long he will be out," said manager Slaven Bilic.

Man of the match - Jonny Evans

Jonny Evans
Only a defender could get man of the match in this game. Jonny Evans marshalled his defence well, kept Andy Carroll quiet and has built a solid partnership with Ahmed Hegazi

What they said - 'Take a point and move on'

Barry can play for another three years - Pulis

Baggies boss Tony Pulis: "We only had a couple of clear-cut chances, just two opportunities in the match against a good West Ham side.

"But we got a clean sheet and the players gave it everything, we just need a bit more quality in the final third. We take a point and move on."

West Ham 'progress' pleases Bilic

Hammers manager Slaven Bilic: "We played solidly and limited them to one chance. In the second half we played more dominant football.

"Two clean sheets in two games is important progress. I am not extremely delighted but there are a lot of positives to build on."

Stats - Baggies love a 0-0 draw

  • West Ham kept just their second clean sheet in their past 19 away matches in the Premier League.
  • Only Southampton (13) and Man Utd (12) have recorded more 0-0 draws in the Premier League than West Brom (10) since Tony Pulis took over in January 2015.
  • West Brom have won just two of their past 14 matches versus West Ham in the Premier League (D9 L3).
  • West Ham have won just once in their past 11 Premier League away games (W1 D4 L6).

What's next?

Both teams are in EFL Cup action this week. West Brom host Manchester City on Wednesday, while Championship side Bolton travel to West Ham on Tuesday.

The Hammers then host Tottenham in the league on Saturday, while the Baggies are at Arsenal on Monday 25 September.

Line-ups

West Brom

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1FosterBooked at 66mins
  • 25Dawson
  • 26Hegazi
  • 6Evans
  • 3GibbsSubstituted forNyomat 85'minutes
  • 20Krychowiak
  • 18Barry
  • 11BruntSubstituted forRobson-Kanuat 72'minutes
  • 7Morrison
  • 10PhillipsSubstituted forMcCleanat 76'minutesBooked at 83mins
  • 19Rodriguez

Substitutes

  • 2Nyom
  • 4Robson-Kanu
  • 5Yacob
  • 9Rondón
  • 13Myhill
  • 14McClean
  • 23McAuley

West Ham

Formation 3-4-3

  • 25Hart
  • 4José Fonte
  • 2Reid
  • 19CollinsSubstituted forArnautovicat 58'minutes
  • 5ZabaletaBooked at 9mins
  • 8Kouyaté
  • 14Obiang
  • 3Cresswell
  • 30AntonioBooked at 90mins
  • 9CarrollSubstituted forSakhoat 82'minutes
  • 17HernándezSubstituted forA Ayewat 76'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Arnautovic
  • 13Adrián
  • 15Sakho
  • 20A Ayew
  • 21Ogbonna
  • 26Masuaku
  • 41Rice
Referee:
Paul Tierney
Attendance:
24,942

Match Stats

Home TeamWest BromAway TeamWest Ham
Possession
Home37%
Away63%
Shots
Home6
Away9
Shots on Target
Home1
Away1
Corners
Home2
Away3
Fouls
Home15
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, West Ham United 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, West Ham United 0.

  3. Booking

    Michail Antonio (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Michail Antonio (West Ham United).

  5. Post update

    Nyom (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Pablo Zabaleta (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Jay Rodriguez (West Bromwich Albion).

  8. Post update

    Foul by Pedro Obiang (West Ham United).

  9. Post update

    Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  10. Post update

    Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Hal Robson-Kanu tries a through ball, but James McClean is caught offside.

  11. Post update

    Attempt saved. Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James McClean with a cross.

  12. Post update

    Hand ball by Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion).

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Nyom replaces Kieran Gibbs.

  14. Booking

    James McClean (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  15. Post update

    Michail Antonio (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  16. Post update

    Foul by James McClean (West Bromwich Albion).

  17. Post update

    Diafra Sakho (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion).

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, West Ham United. Diafra Sakho replaces Andy Carroll.

  20. Post update

    Offside, West Ham United. Pablo Zabaleta tries a through ball, but Andy Carroll is caught offside.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City54101621413
2Man Utd43101221010
3Chelsea43018539
4Newcastle53026429
5Tottenham52217348
6Huddersfield52215328
7Burnley52216518
8Liverpool52219908
9Southampton52214408
10West Brom52214408
11Watford522179-28
12Arsenal420278-16
13Stoke512256-15
14Swansea512225-35
15Leicester511379-24
16Brighton511347-34
17Everton411226-44
18West Ham5113410-64
19Bournemouth510439-63
20Crystal Palace500508-80
View full Premier League table

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