Blues battle back for point

Birmingham cancel out Toffees' two-goal lead

Last updated: 13th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Blues battle back for point

Gardner: First goal for Blues

Man of Match: Cameron Jerome. Scored for Blues when they needed it and a goal assist, as well as being a constant menace all afternoon.

Moment of the match: Jerome's goal. Everton had just gone two up but Jerome pulled them back into it within four minutes.

Attempt of the match: Steven Pienaar hit a fantastic curling effort from the edge of the box early on in the first period which looked set to be a goal but Joe Hart produced a great full-stretch save to keep it out.

Talking point: Can Birmingham continue their fine form and qualify for Europe. Their battling spirit was again in evidence today.

Goal of the game: Craig Gardner's first for the Blues. He hit a fine left-footed strike into the bottom corner which left Tim Howard no chance.

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Birmingham City came from two goals down to earn a deserved 2-2 draw with Europe-chasing rivals Everton at St Andrews.

The Toffees raced into a two-goal lead thanks to efforts from Victor Anichebe on 19 minutes and Yakubu three minutes later.

But the Blues quickly pulled one back on 26 minutes courtesy of in-form Cameron Jerome and then drew level via Craig Gardner's first goal for the club early in the second period.

The draw preserved the Blues' six-month unbeaten home record and means Alex McLeish's eighth-placed side stay two points ahead of the Toffees in the race for European qualification via the league.

Mikel Arteta, who played under McLeish at Rangers, produced an impressive display in front of his former boss.

But another ex-Ibrox player in Barry Ferguson was an influential figure in the centre of the park for City.

Both sides gave away a series of niggly free-kicks in the opening quarter-of-an-hour and there was little cohesive play, although Everton were quicker to the second ball.

After 16 minutes Blues keeper Joe Hart produced a superb save to keep his side on level terms.

Curling effort

Leighton Baines found Steven Pienaar in space and his curling effort was destined for the corner of the net until Hart finger-tipped his drive around the post.

Hart then clung onto a Cahill header from an Arteta centre before Anichebe put Everton ahead after 19 minutes.

Toffees skipper Phil Neville played the ball into the feet of Anichebe who turned past Liam Ridgewell before beating Hart with a powerful 15-yard drive.

Then three minutes later Yakubu got on the score-sheet to double Everton's lead.

Arteta picked out the run to the byline of Pienaar and, from his cross, Yakubu climbed above Roger Johnson to head home at the far post.

Birmingham needed a positive response and hit back through Jerome. Keith Fahey sent in a cross from the left of the Everton box and Jerome got the faintest of touches in deflecting the ball wide of Tim Howard and into the corner of the net.

Lee Bowyer became the first player to be booked - for deliberate handball - but there was now more purpose about the home side's general play.

In first half-injury-time Hart again excelled to push away a Baines free-kick.

Second period

Early in the second half Everton appealed in vain for a penalty for handball against Johnson following a fiercely struck shot from Pienaar.

There was then another shout for handball in the box from the visitors against Gardner but this was also rejected by referee Lee Probert.

After 52 minutes, lifelong fan Gardner brought the Blues back on level terms with his first goal for the club following his £3 million January move from rivals Aston Villa.

Jerome won the challenge in the air and in an instant Gardner ran onto the ball and drilled a low left-footed drive past Howard into the corner of the net.

But after 59 minutes he was substituted and replaced by Sebastian Larsson.

Yakubu was booked after blocking a Bowyer free-kick when not retreating 10 yards.

Everton boss David Moyes made his first change when bringing on Landon Donovan for Yakubu after 67 minutes while Christian Benitez was replaced by former Everton striker James McFadden after 72 minutes.

Cahill created space for himself but fired his left-footed attempt straight at Hart before he made way for Jack Rodwell.

Anichebe looked in a lot of pain when suffering a leg injury while running for a ball and he was immediately substituted, with Dan Gosling coming on for the striker.

McFadden blazed over from close range as both sides sought a winner while Johnny Heitinga also fired one over the bar for the Toffees.

Birmingham CityTeam StatisticsEverton
2Goals2
11st Half Goals2
4Shots on Target6
4Shots off Target4
1Blocked Shots4
5Corners4
15Fouls12
0Offsides4
1Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
66.7Passing Success72.9
18Tackles12
77.8Tackles Success75
49.4Possession50.6
48.3Territorial Advantage51.7
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