On The Ball written by Gareth Payne.

Full-Time: Sammy Clingan's superb second half free-kick earns City a thoroughly deserved point this afternoon at St. Andrew's against second-placed, promotion chasing Birmingham City.

90+2: Marshall pulls off a magnificent save, tipping Phillips' header over his own bar, the former England striker rose to meet sub David Murphy's left-wing centre.

90+1: City survive a loud handball shout, from the crowd more than the players and Doherty is caught late after clearing, free-kick to City inside their own box.

90th: Four minutes of time to be added on.

87th: David Marshall is booked for time-wasting.

85th: Kevin Phillips' takes a shot on the turn from the edge of the area, but it takes a deflection through but Larsson is offside as he tries to control it.

83rd: Today's attendance is announced as 18,159.

82nd: Last change for Birmingham, Franck Queudrue is withdrawn for David Murphy, a simple change at left-back.

80th: Nice link up play from Gow and Carney force a corner for City, from the right, Lappin to take. Queudrue wins the header beyond the far post and another City corner, this time from the left and Clingan will take.

74th: Otsemobor is down holding his knee after winning a challenge against Queudrue, play restarts without him but he is straight back on.

72nd: Gow has a shot on the half-volley after Carney's cross from the left is only half-cleared, forcing Taylor into a save low down to his left, Mooney was waiting for any spillages.

71st: City want a penalty, Gow turns his man and his attempt to deliver takes a deflection, Gow, Lappin and co ask the question to referee Mark Haywood.

70th: Birmingham corner from the left, which will be taken by Larsson. Ridgewell headers over from the penalty spot.

69th: Second roll of the dice from McLeish - introducing Kevin Phillips for Garry O'Connor.

68th: Jerome hits a snap-shot from the edge of the area but wide.

66th: Larsson's corner from the left is headed away by captain Doherty.

63rd: Bertrand's low cross looking for Lee is forced behind for a corner. A change by Alex McLeish - Scott Sinclair on loan from Chelsea replaces Hameur Bouazza in a straight swap, winger for winger.

62nd: Ridgewell and Taylor almost get themself into a mix-up, the central defender's back header beats Taylor but he just manages to get a hand to palm it away from the lurking Mooney.

57th: Otsemobor wins a cormer for City, a neat one-two with Mooney puts the full-back away but his attempted cross is blocked. Lappin takes the corner from the right, met by Alan Lee at the far post, with Taylor beaten, Seb Larsson heads clear off the goalline.

53rd: Sammy Clingan comes up with a pearler of a free-kick to level proceedings at St. Andrew's. Right-footed up and over the wall, Maik Taylor did not move as it nestled in the left-hand corner of the net.

51st: Larsson's delivery is met by Bouazza at the far post but in to the side netting.

50th: Free-kick given against Gary Doherty for holding on Jerome, wide left, 18 yards from goal.

48th: Gow tries his luck on his left-foot after the Blues fail to clear Bertrand's left-wing cross but straight at Taylor in the Birmingham goal.

Birmingham get us underway in the second half, City attacking the goal to which their own fans sit behind.

Half-Time: That is the last action of the half and City trail to a Cameron Jerome goal to nil, City will be disappointed and slightly agrieved to be behind here at St. Andrew's.

45+3: Gary Doherty is adjudged to have fouled Garry O'Connor, five yards outside the City box. Into the fifth minute of added time, Larsson left-footed curls his fierce free-kick over the bar.

45+2: Alan Lee is booked for a foul on Franck Queudrue, who is absolutely furious, Sebastian Larsson and Maik Taylor do well to restrain their teammate. A minute to the half.

45th: Minimum of three minutes to be added on for the injuries we've had in this first half at St. Andrew's.

42nd: Free-kick to City after a probing run by Gow is halted by Carsley's sliding challenge from behind. Clingan runs over the set-piece, leaving it for Simon Lappin left-footed. Taylor makes a routine save tumbling to his left.

38th: Cameron Jermone gives the hosts the lead. Bouazza delivered a high cross from deep, he jumped with David Marshall, leading with an arm and the City 'keeper dropped the ball under Jerome's pressure, the ball dropped kindly for the former Cardiff striker to tap in, with Marshall on the floor holding his face. Foul?

37th: Nice bit of footwork from Gow to beat his man. Fires in a shot from the angle on the left but his shot goes just wide.

35th: Sebastian Larsson floats in a cross to Hameur Bouazza but he can't generate enough power on the header from just inside the area, Marshall makes an easy catch.

31st: Carney's delivers a deep ball to the far post where Alan Gow is available to meet it on the half-volley, squeezes his post past Taylor but too much angle and wide of the far post.

28th: Skipper Lee Carsley returns to the fold with a unnamed, unnumbered shirt.

25th: Lee Carsley is receiving treatment for a facial injury, looks like a nose bleed.

20th: Carr concedes another corner to City, from the left, Lappin takes it short, cleared away by the Blues.

17th: City free-kick for a foul on the busy Alan Lee, who was caught late after winning the challenge with Ridgewell. Central 35 yards out. High, wide and not very handsome from Jon Otsemobor.

15th: Sammy Clingan concedes a free-kick for a foul on former Newcastle and Spurs full-back Stephen Carr. Delivery is too deep for Garry O'Connor, who is making his first start since October of last year.

13th: Liam Ridgewell is down receiving treatment for a head injury.

7th: City's shape for you, the back five remain unchanged, Lappin is in for Russell in central midfield alongside Sammy Clingan, David Carney is wide right and Alan Gow on the left of midfield. David Mooney is partnered by debutante Alan Lee.

6th: Alan Gow flashes an effort wide of Maik Taylor's left-hand post after Lappin, his first match since November 2007, robbed Carsley on the edge of the area.

5th: Lively start, Birmingham attack down the left and Lee Bowyer headers well wide.

4th: City have a goal disallowed, the assistant's flag on the far side was long up before Jason Shackell headed in from Lee's header back across goal.

3rd: Lee puts an effort over from close range after Jason Shackell met Clingan's corner and Carsley's clearance fell to the Irishman.

2nd: City force the first corner of the game, Carr getting back to dispossess Gow. Clingan to take from the left.

City get us underway, kicking from my right to my left.

Bryan Gunn makes three changes from the win over Plymouth, Darel Russell starts his two-match ban, Wes Hoolahan is out for the season with ankle ligament damage and Lee Croft misses out. In come Simon Lappin, David Carney and Alan Lee for his debut. Academy products Korey Smith and Tom Adeyemi make the bench, 18 and 17 years old respectively, this being Adeymi's first involvement in the first team, Smith has previously made the bench in the FA Cup ties against Charlton Athletic. Smith and Adeyemi were the central midfield pairing for the FA Youth Cup run this year. Full teams from St. Andrew's:

City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Clingan, Carney, Doherty (c), Gow, Mooney, Lappin, Bertrand, Lee. Subs not used: Drury, Nelson (GK), McDonald, Smith, Adeyemi.

Birmingham: Taylor, Ridgewell, Carr, Jaidi, Queudrue (Murphy 82), Bowyer, Larsson, Carsley (c), Bouazza (Sinclair 63), Jerome, O'Connor (Phillips 69). Subs not used: Doyle (GK), Fahey.