But another clean sheet, a valuable point and a solid defensive display at least left Baggies fans reflecting that with the acquisition of Jonny Evans (in place of Joleon Lescott) they’ll be difficult to break down. Unfortunately the lack of genuine midfield creativity plus toothless strikers underlines that without a 100% improvement it will certainly be a long hard season.

Starting at Villa Park on Saturday! Villa, like Albion, are struggling to win games and I can understand Tim Sherwood’s frustration after seeing them lose a 2-0 lead at Leicester. He said “We kept giving the ball back to them .” Perhaps they did but in that respect I can assure you that Albion have no betters when it comes passing to an opposing team shirt.

Woeful, barely more than three passes (and that’s being generous) coupled with an inability to control the simplest of basic skills,was painful to watch. As regards the introduction of Saido Berahino, replacing Rickie Lambert he received a generous round of applause and for a spell added more purpose. Solomon Rondon had a poor game, climaxed by missing our one and only best chance. Callum McManaman was the only threat (no comment on the penalty incident) but apart from him – ugh!

The decision to omit James Morrison, our sole creative player, left fans baffled and if repeated for the Villa game will be a major disappointment.

Forecasting the result of a localdDerby is akin to buying a lottery ticket. It’s a case of wait and see, anything can and probably will happen to spring a surprise. Who can forget Ben Foster donating Villa a last minute penalty that helped Villa retained their Greed League status at the end of last season?

It’s to close to call but based on Villa’s display at Leicester before tossing away that two goal lead and the Baggies’ awful Southampton display, I have to make them favourites especially as they have home advantage. But if the Albion defence can negate Villa’s attacking policy we could earn another valuable point.