Newcastle United have held West Bromwich Albion to a 0-0 half-time draw at The Hawthorns today.

The Magpies started the brighter of the two teams and should have taken a 27th-minute lead through Yohan Cabaye, but the Frenchman volleyed narrowly wide of Ben Foster's post from close range.

Minutes later it was Chris Brunt who was guilty of failing to open the scoring, as the Northern Irishman rose highest to meet Morgan Amalfitano's cross but planted a tame header wide of the mark.

Nicolas Anelka spurned the best chance of the half in the closing stages, firing over the bar from close range following Amalfitano's clever cut-back pass as both managers share the spoils at half time.