Blues battle back for point

Birmingham came from two goals down to earn a deserved draw with Europe-chasing rivals Everton.

Birmingham cancel out Toffees' two-goal lead

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 City	Team Statistics	Everton
2	Goals	2
1	1st Half Goals	2
4	Shots on Target	6
4	Shots off Target	4
1	Blocked Shots	4
5	Corners	4
15	Fouls	12
0	Offsides	4
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
66.7	Passing Success	72.9
18	Tackles	12
77.8	Tackles Success	75
49.4	Possession	50.6
48.3	Territorial Advantage	51.7