West Brom earn point at Ewood

Blackburn 1 West Brom 1

Craig Short shattered West Brom’s hopes of a Premiership return to remember at Ewood Park today.

The veteran defender headed a 70th-minute equaliser for Blackburn to save Graeme Souness’ blushes and cancel out Neil Clement’s first-half opener.

But there is no doubt the Baggies went home happier after being forced to hold on under intense Rovers pressure to bag their precious point.

Clement had booted Albion ahead in fortunate fashion when his 34th-minute free-kick took a big deflection and sailed past Brad Friedel.

But Dwight Yorke and Brett Emerton both missed golden chances to pull Rovers back into the game, before Short struck and set up an increasingly frantic finale.

Ultimately Albion deserved their draw amid signs of a more positive approach to their second Premiership campaign.

While they retained their trademark tightness at the back which prevented the home side having a shot on target throughout the first half, their new boys provided plenty of flair.

Jonathan Greening was a constant threat from set-pieces, while the tricky skills of Nigerian Kanu can still fox many top-flight defenders.

Gary Megson’s men started brightly by winning a corner in the first minute and then almost releasing Kanu’s strike partner Geoff Horsfield for a clear run on goal.

Rovers showed the same sluggishness which had contributed to their poor 15th place last season, with the recalled Yorke failing to make an early impression.

Souness’ men were struggling against a tightly-packed Albion midfield who slowly sapped their energy.

Rovers new boy Javier De Pedro saw plenty of the ball in the early stages - but when he got his first chance on the quarter-hour after Clement’s misplaced pass he could not find space to shoot.

At the other end, Kanu tricked Emerton brilliantly on the left before hitting a low cross which just eluded Andy Johnson in the box.

Rovers claims for handball were rejected in the 20th minute after Vratislav Gresko’s speculative shot was blocked by Thomas Gaardsoe in the box.

Then Yorke made his first contribution with a speculative header which flashed wide of Russell Hoult’s right-hand post.

But Albion began to step things up on the half-hour, and Darren Purse was the unlikely source of the first on-target effort with a low shot blocked by Barry Ferguson.

Four minutes later Albion grabbed their lead when Clement’s going-nowhere free-kick was deflected home.

Rovers new boy Dominic Matteo immediately flashed a header over at the other end, and the half ended with Yorke given another fine chance by Emerton only to head high from close range.

Souness’ introduction of Paul Dickov for his competitive Rovers debut at half-time perked up the home side, who launched into a period of pressure.

But it almost all turned sour in the 50th minute, Lorenzo Amoruso’s poor back-pass close to letting in Kanu before an alert Friedel cleared the danger.

With Emerton beginning to emerge as more of a threat on the right, Rovers continued driving forward.

Jonathan Stead was only inches from connecting with a long Amoruso hump upfield in the 56th minute.

Rovers’ best chance appeared to have arrived just before the hour when Yorke’s goal-bound snap-shot was blocked by a posse of Albion defenders on the edge of the box.

Emerton stabbed at the loose ball but saw a bobbling effort stretch across the face of goal with Hoult helpless.

Referee Chris Foy did not endear himself to the home fans by waving away two loud appeals, firstly for handball against Horsfield and then for a challenge on Dickov in the box.

As the game heated up, Matteo was lucky to stay on the pitch after pulling back Kanu when the Nigerian was about to go clean through 35 yards from the Rovers goal.

Instead it was the unlikely figure of Short who saved Rovers’ day with a fine glancing header which beat Hoult 20 minutes from time.

Tugay and Emerton both had late chances as the home side pressed for the win - and Albion were understandably content to cling on for the draw which already presents them with one point more than they managed in their first three Premiership matches two years ago.