West Brom lost their place in the top two of the Coca-Cola championship for the first time in three months as their under-pressure former manager Bryan Robson saw his Sheffield United side earn a goalless draw at the Hawthorns.

A section of United fans had called for Robson to quit in a car park demonstration after Saturday's home clash with Scunthorpe.

But there was no evidence on this showing to indicate Robson, who will meet the club's plc chairman Kevin McCabe in Brussels tomorrow, has lost the support of his players who gave a committed and determined performance.

Skipper Chris Morgan was a rock-solid performer at the heart of their defence, wide men David Cotterill and Lee Martin looked sharp on the counter-attack and Luton Shelton was a threat with his pace.

Albion were left to reflect on a frustrating night and they were not allowed to play the free-flowing football which has become their trademark.

Wide man Felipe Teixeira and midfielder James Morrison pulled out all the stops to try and find a way through the United back four but they held firm.

United, with only one win in the previous nine league games, began promisingly and could have gone ahead after only four minutes.

Martin made good ground down the left and his low cross picked out Morgan whose low shot was blocked by Leon Barnett. The rebound fell to Cotterill eight yards out but he dragged his shot wide.

Albion retaliated and Teixeira twice went close in the space of 60 seconds.

First the Portuguese midfielder struck the post with a glancing header from Chris Brunt's powerfully driven cross and then he sliced a shot wide when in a good position after Kevin Phillips had found him in space.

Martin Albrechtsen was only just wide with a header from a Teixeira corner and Paddy Kenny in the visitors' goal needed two attempts to cling on to a swerving drive from Phillips.

West Brom appealed in vain for a penalty for handball against Matthew Kilgallon following a deep centre from Brunt.

Dean Kiely held on to a curling effort from the pacey Shelton away to his left before United were forced into a substitution after 38 minutes when Gary Speed limped out of the action to be replaced by Chris Armstrong.

Kilgallon missed the Blades' best chance of the opening 45 minutes in injury-time. No-one picked up the centre-back from Martin's corner but he sent his header wide when it seemed easier to score.

Kenny did well at the start of the second period to parry a fierce drive from Jonathan Greening and flick the rebound away from the onrushing Phillips.

West Brom striker Ishmael Miller became the first player to be yellow carded for dissent after a free-kick was awarded against Mowbray's side.

The home side started to get on top and Morgan did well to block a goal-bound shot from Albrechtsen.

But in a breakaway raid Stephen Quinn should have done better when he ballooned over the bar from 15 yards out when in acres of space.

Blades defender Gary Naysmith almost gifted a goal to Phillips with a mis-timed back pass but the veteran striker seemed taken by surprise and the ball ran through to Kenny.

Phillips then squandered a golden chance when heading over at close range from a Brunt cross and tested Kenny with a shot on the turn but United held firm for a deserved point.

Teams:

West Brom Kiely, Hoefkens, Barnett, Albrechtsen, Robinson,Morrison, Greening, Filipe Teixeira, Brunt,Miller (Beattie 70), Phillips.

Subs Not Used: Danek, Martis, Tininho, Pele.

Booked: Miller.

Sheff Utd Kenny, Geary, Kilgallon, Morgan, Naysmith,Cotterill, Speed (Armstrong 38), Quinn, Martin,Shelton (Gillespie 77), Beattie (Hulse 86).

Subs Not Used: Lucketti, Sharp.

Att: 22,643

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).