Darren Bent was on target

Darren Bent came off the bench to rescue a late point for Aston Villa against local rivals West Brom.

The England striker swept home following a corner on 80 minutes and almost stole a winner when he fired over soon after.

Earlier, Shane Long missed a header but then turned in James Morrison's cross to put West Brom ahead.

Although the game had few chances, West Brom's Romelu Lukaku twice went close as the match opened up later on.

First, the substitute's late shot clipped the post after it was deflected and then following Bent's goal, the Belgian striker was denied by Brad Guzan.

Gabriel Tamas also shaved the bar, as West Brom continued their positive start to the season, with Steve Clarke's team remaining sixth in the Premier League table.

Bent's goal was the perfect response to being left out of the starting line-up and his replacement Christian Benteke did little to inspire confidence in a Villa side who showed plenty of creativity in the first half but lacked the incisiveness to match.

Paul Lambert's mixed beginning to his Villa reign looked to be improving after the midweek defeat of Manchester City in the Capital One Cup.

And although there was plenty to encourage the Villa fans in this game, they still look some way short of where they would like to be having won just once in the league after six games.

Their most promising openings in a busy first half came from midfielder Brett Holman, who twice tested West Brom keeper Ben Foster - and it is clear that Gabriel Agbonlahor and Benteke need more games to flourish properly.

West Brom remain at the top end of the table based on three home wins and this, a second point away from home, but they had a great early chance to take control of the game when Long headed wide from five yards after just five minutes.