Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion have played out a goalless half of football at Villa Park on Sunday.

It was the away side that started the better and Shane Long just fired his header wide of the target in the game's first real opportunity.

Villa had a half-chance to open their account when Ron Vlaar rose highest in the area from a corner, but he just failed to make a proper connection.

The home side continued to create openings as the half developed, with Gabriel Agbonlahor and Christian Benteke a threat in the penalty area.

Benteke had an effort of his own just before the 30-minute mark in the match, but chances remained few and far between in the latter stages of the half.

It was Villa who came closest to breaking the score in the first half with late efforts from Brett Holman and Ciaran Clark, but to no avail.