Birmingham v Cardiff
Mark Hudson rescued a deserved point for Cardiff City with a wonderful volley as Birmingham returned to the top six on goal difference.
Marlon King missed a second-half penalty but Erik Huseklepp put the home side in front against the run of play after a slick counter attack.
Captain Hudson converted Peter Whittingham's deft ball to equalise and Rudy Gestede almost grabbed a winner.
Chris Burke also forced a fine save from Cardiff keeper David Marshall.
The point leaves both sides locked together on 60 points, with Birmingham's vastly superior goal difference giving them the last play-off place with seven games remaining.
But Cardiff will feel they wasted a crucial opportunity to take maximum points from one of their promotion rivals, who looked totally devoid of ideas on a lively surface.
Birmingham struggled to pick up Cardiff's mobile midfielders throughout as Whittingham and Aron Gunnarsson found space at will in pockets in front of the home defence.
Did you know?
- Birmingham have not lost at St Andrews to Cardiff City since a 2-1 reverse in the old Second Division in December 1966
For all their dominance, though, the visitors failed to test Boaz Myhill in the home goal until substitute Gestede's drive eight minutes from time.
Joe Mason came closest to capitalising on their superiority in the first half when he flashed a drive across the face of Boaz Myhill's goal.
The lone striker, a summer recruit from Plymouth Argyle, was also within inches of reaching Whittingham's enticing cross.
Birmingham did force the only save of the first half when Guirane N'Daw's tame shot was comfortably saved by Marshall.
And after struggling so badly before the break, Birmingham were given the perfect opportunity to score when Jordan Mutch lured Don Cowie to dangle out a leg in his own area.
King, scorer of three penalties this season, stepped up but his weak effort was palmed away by Marshall as he dived to his right.
Cardiff's dominance continued, but they were caught out by a sucker punch on 68 minutes later for Birmingham's opener.
Chris Burke beat Kevin McNaughton, Cardiff's only defensive cover as they surged forward for a corner, and delivered a perfect ball for Huseklepp to stroke past Marshall at the far post.
Whittingham had looked Cardiff's most likely creator, and the midfielder showed his class once again this season to set up the equaliser 12 minutes from time.
Hudson still had plenty to do as he waited for Whittingham's chip over the home defence, but the captain controlled his side-foot volley to perfection from just inside the area.
Burke then tested Marshall's reactions with a sharp shot on the turn, before Cardiff's late surge saw Myhill saving Gestede's goal-bound effort.
Birmingham manager Chris Hughton said: "We were not at our best in the first half. We got an improvement in the second half up against a team which floods the midfield.
"In 95 minutes their goal was the only chance they had."
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay said: "I am disappointed because we played fantastically and showed real courage in dominating possession.
"If we had panicked after they had scored and lumped the ball forward it would have played into their hands.
"I thought we probed well, pushed on well after our equaliser and we had Birmingham on the back foot."
Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (4)
Birmingham City
- 01 Myhill
- 04 Caldwell
- 05 Pablo (Gomis - 72' )
- 06 Ramage
- 24 Davies
- 07 Burke
- 08 N'daw
- 10 Huseklepp (Townsend - 69' )
- 12 Mutch
- 15 Elliott
- 09 King
Substitutes
- 13 Doyle
- 11 Townsend
- 14 Gomis
- 22 Redmond
- 19 Zigic
Cardiff City
- 01 Marshall
- 02 McNaughton
- 03 Taylor
- 05 Hudson
- 25 Turner
- 07 Whittingham
- 08 Cowie (Gestede - 72' )
- 13 Lawrence
- 17 Gunnarsson
- 37 McPhail (Miller - 84' )
- 20 Mason
Substitutes
- 22 Heaton
- 23 Blake
- 09 Miller
- 10 Earnshaw
- 15 Gestede
Live Text Commentary
The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00 +4:30The assistant referee signals for offside against Marlon King. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.
90:00 +3:21Centre by Andrew Taylor.
90:00 +2:48Corner taken left-footed by Peter Whittingham from the right by-line to the near post, Marlon King makes a clearance.
90:00 +2:42The ball is delivered by Andrew Taylor.
90:00 +2:08Foul by Marlon King on Mark Hudson, free kick awarded. David Marshall takes the free kick.
90:00 +1:45Shot by Rudy Gestede from outside the box goes over the net.
90:00 +1:09Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Whittingham by Morgaro Gomis. Free kick taken by David Marshall.
87:40Corner taken left-footed by Peter Whittingham, clearance made by Curtis Davies.
84:07Chris Burke takes a shot. Save by David Marshall.
83:59The ball is crossed by Wade Elliott, clearance by Ben Turner.
83:10 SubstitutionSubstitution Kenny Miller comes on in place of Stephen McPhail.
82:29Rudy Gestede takes a shot. Save made by Boaz Myhill.
82:21Peter Whittingham delivers the ball, Guirane N'Daw makes a clearance.
79:46Chris Burke takes a shot. Save by David Marshall.
78:15Andros Townsend produces a cross, save made by David Marshall.
77:04The assist for the goal came from Peter Whittingham.
77:04 Goal scoredGoal - Mark Hudson - Birmingham 1 - 1 Cardiff Mark Hudson gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Birmingham 1-1 Cardiff.
75:33Liam Lawrence produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.
71:18 SubstitutionSubstitution Don Cowie leaves the field to be replaced by Rudy Gestede.
Substitution (Birmingham) makes a substitution, with Morgaro Gomis coming on for Pablo Ibanez.
68:32 SubstitutionSubstitution Andros Townsend on for Erik Huseklepp.
67:18Assist on the goal came from Chris Burke.
67:18 Goal scoredGoal - Erik Huseklepp - Birmingham 1 - 0 Cardiff Erik Huseklepp grabs a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Birmingham 1-0 Cardiff.
66:27Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Whittingham, clearance made by Pablo Ibanez.
66:20Kevin McNaughton produces a cross, Curtis Davies manages to make a clearance.
65:50The ball is crossed by Don Cowie, Steven Caldwell manages to make a clearance.
64:43Unfair challenge on Liam Lawrence by Guirane N'Daw results in a free kick. Liam Lawrence restarts play with the free kick.
62:02Centre by Liam Lawrence.
61:26Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence played to the near post, Jordon Mutch makes a clearance.
59:22Wade Elliott gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen McPhail. Direct free kick taken by Stephen McPhail.
58:22A cross is delivered by Ben Turner.
58:22A cross is delivered by Ben Turner, Steven Caldwell makes a clearance.
57:39The ball is swung over by Wade Elliott, Ben Turner makes a clearance.
57:05Marlon King crosses the ball, clearance made by Liam Lawrence.
56:24Corner taken by Peter Whittingham from the right by-line to the near post, Jordon Mutch makes a clearance.
55:59 PenaltyPenalty taken by Marlon King saved by David Marshall. Birmingham 0-0 Cardiff.
54:51Jordon Mutch fouled by Don Cowie, the ref awards a Penalty.
55:59 PenaltyPenalty taken by Marlon King saved by David Marshall. Birmingham 0-0 Cardiff.
54:51Foul by Don Cowie on Jordon Mutch, Penalty awarded.
53:35Peter Whittingham takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Jordon Mutch manages to make a clearance.
53:30Don Cowie delivers the ball, clearance by Peter Ramage.
52:21Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Erik Huseklepp by Kevin McNaughton. Jordon Mutch restarts play with the free kick.
50:00Shot by Jordon Mutch went wide of the right-hand upright.
49:24Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marlon King by Mark Hudson. Wade Elliott takes the direct free kick.
47:45The assistant referee signals for offside against Joe Mason. Boaz Myhill takes the free kick.
45:01The referee gets the second half started.
45:00 +0:56The whistle is blown to end the first half.
43:53The ball is delivered by Kevin McNaughton, Wade Elliott makes a clearance.
37:40The assistant referee flags for offside against Jordon Mutch. Free kick taken by David Marshall.
36:49Foul by Wade Elliott on Liam Lawrence, free kick awarded. Stephen McPhail restarts play with the free kick.
36:00The referee blows for offside against Marlon King. Indirect free kick taken by David Marshall.
35:16The referee blows for offside against Aron Gunnarsson. Indirect free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.
33:04Effort from the edge of the penalty area by Joe Mason goes wide of the left-hand post.
31:43Foul by Wade Elliott on Liam Lawrence, free kick awarded. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.
31:08Corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch from the right by-line, clearance by Liam Lawrence.
29:02The referee blows for offside against Joe Mason. Indirect free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.
28:09Peter Whittingham crosses the ball.
27:30Unfair challenge on Liam Lawrence by Jordon Mutch results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Liam Lawrence.
26:49Peter Whittingham produces a cross, save by Boaz Myhill.
26:28Short corner worked by Peter Whittingham.
25:41Jordon Mutch gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin McNaughton. Free kick crossed by Peter Whittingham, clearance made by Jordon Mutch.
21:35Don Cowie is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.
18:13The ball is sent over by Marlon King, Liam Lawrence makes a clearance.
17:16Guirane N'Daw takes a shot. Save by David Marshall.
17:09Wade Elliott sends in a cross, clearance made by Aron Gunnarsson.
16:42Short corner taken by Wade Elliott from the left by-line.
14:10Ben Turner has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
12:17Peter Whittingham takes a corner.
10:17Joe Mason has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the goal.
6:34Free kick awarded for a foul by Jordon Mutch on Aron Gunnarsson. Andrew Taylor takes the free kick.
5:05The ball is swung over by Andrew Taylor, clearance made by Pablo Ibanez.
2:44Joe Mason is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.
0:19Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Pablo Ibanez by Peter Whittingham. Boaz Myhill takes the direct free kick.
0:00The referee gets the match started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
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