Aston Villa 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

A late Darren Bent equaliser cancelled out a Shane Long goal to ensure it finished level in the West Midlands derby at Villa Park.

The Baggies had the best of the early play and should have taken the lead when Long headed wide from only five yards with five minutes on the clock.
Villa went close through Ciaran Clark and Brett Holman and could have enjoyed a half-time lead, but Christian Benteke put in a terrible effort from 15 yards after he had robbed Gareth McAuley and run unchallenged into the box.
The game sprang into life on 50 minutes when Long had a goal ruled out for offside, but he did get the breakthrough only a minute later. James Morrison ran down the right and put in a low ball that the Irish striker bundled into the net to give the Baggies the lead.
Benteke was denied a goal by a great last-gasp tackle from Gabriel Tamas on 53 minutes and the West Brom defender almost scored himself, when his whipped cross nearly caught Brad Guzan off-guard.
Bent was brought on for Benteke and, on 79 minutes, he got the goal Villa had desperately searched for. A corner rattled around the box but Bent drilled it home from close range to bring the scores level.
West Brom almost re-took the lead on 83 minutes when Romelu Lukaku got clear and his shot deflected off Clark and over Guzan only for it to hit the post and go behind for a corner.
The on-loan striker had another effort on 89 minutes that was well-saved by Guzan but the game finished level to ensure the West Midlands spoils were shared.