Ten-man Manchester United failed to go to the top of the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw at in-form Birmingham.
Jerome puts Blues ahead before Dann own goal and Fletcher sent-off
Ten-man Manchester United failed to go to the top of the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw at in-form Birmingham.
The Red Devils dominated the first period but failed to score and Cameron Jerome punished the visitors on 39 minutes when slotting home from close range after United failed to clear a corner.
But the champions levelled on 63 minutes when Scott Dann turned in Patrice Evra's cross.
The Blues were incensed that referee Mark Clattenburg allowed the equaliser, believing that Wayne Rooney was offside, but he consulted with one of his assistants before awarding the goal.
Darren Fletcher was then sent off for a second bookable offence late on as United held on for the draw, which puts them a point behind Chelsea, having played a game more.
The draw enabled the Blues to make club history in achieving their longest ever unbeaten top flight run of 12 games, with Alex McLeish's side staying in eighth in the table.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had demanded a response after the shock FA Cup reversal against Leeds and made seven changes to his starting line-up.
He could not have complained about the commitment and determination of his players and they completely dominated the opening 45 minutes and yet trailed to Birmingham's only shot on goal from Jerome.
But the home side showed the tenacity and fighting spirit which has been their trademark during an 11-game unbeaten run leading into this fixture.
And in the second half they posed more of a threat via the pacey Christian Benitez and United's Tomasz Kuszczak was the busier of the two keepers.
United dominated possession from the first whistle and City midfielder Barry Ferguson blocked a shot from Fletcher at the expense of a corner.
Birmingham were closing down in typical fashion but they were guilty of some poor distribution in the early stages.
Important block
Fletcher teed up Paul Scholes in space 20 yards out and it needed James McFadden to get in an important block and concede a corner.
Wayne Rooney then got the better of Birmingham skipper Stephen Carr, who misjudged a pass down the line from Evra, and it needed McFadden to get in a vital block at the far post to keep out Luis Antonio Valencia's shot.
City keeper Joe Hart was tested for the first time after 24 minutes when he reacted quickly to block a shot from Rooney who had been found in space by Valencia.
It was one-way traffic towards the home goal and Rooney headed wide from a Fletcher centre.
McFadden brought down Scholes 25 yards out but Valencia's free-kick was charged down by Lee Bowyer.
Park Ji-Sung had an opportunity when running onto a Fletcher through-ball but he lost his balance when under pressure from Carr.
United then appealed in vain for a penalty after claiming Carr had handled a pile-driver from Michael Carrick.
It was non-stop attacking from United and Dann threw his body in the way of another shot from Carrick.
But after 39 minutes Birmingham stunned United by taking the lead in their first worthwhile attack from Jerome.
The former Cardiff player forced a corner when his shot was blocked by Scholes.
United failed to deal with McFadden's centre, Bowyer headed the ball back across goal and it bounced off Johnny Evans to Jerome, who applied the finishing touch for his fifth goal of the campaign.
Squandered chance
Birmingham then
