Southampton lost further ground on Championship leaders West Ham as they played out a draw against promotion hopefuls Birmingham at St Andrew's.

The hosts had the better chances in snowy conditions with Guirane N'Daw heading just wide from close range.

Marlon King saw his low 18-yard side-foot superbly tipped round the post by Saints keeper Kelvin Davis who later saved well at the feet of Adam Rooney.

Southampton also had Danny Fox sent off for two bookable offences late on.

The result keeps Saints second but they fall four points behind the Hammers while Birmingham are in fifth place and nine points behind the leaders with a game in hand.

Snow and wind made life difficult for both sides but Birmingham started the stronger, with midfielder N'Daw, back in the side after his Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Senegal was brought to a premature end, heading narrowly wide after eight minutes.

It was the closest either side came to scoring with neither keeper tested in an uneventful first half.

That changed within 38 seconds of the restart as David Murphy burst down the left and found King, whose strike was palmed around a post by Davis.

New Saints signing Billy Sharp was introduced for his debut just minutes into the second half, but it was Davis who soon in action again as he saved from N'Daw.

Boaz Myhill in the Birmingham goal had still to make a stop as Saints failed to capitalise on a defensive mix-up by the hosts with 25 minutes remaining.

Fox was shown a second yellow for a foul on Chris Burke with seven minutes remaining but Chris Hughton's side were unable to make their numerical advantage count.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Birmingham City

  • 01 Myhill
  • 03 Murphy
  • 04 Caldwell Booked
  • 23 Spector
  • 24 Davies
  • 07 Burke
  • 08 N'daw Booked
  • 12 Mutch
  • 18 Fahey
  • 09 King
  • 17 Rooney (Elliott - 66' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Doyle
  • 05 Pablo
  • 15 Elliott
  • 22 Redmond
  • 36 Jervis

Southampton

  • 01 Davis
  • 02 Richardson
  • 06 Fonte
  • 13 Fox Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 16 Martin
  • 04 Schneiderlin
  • 08 Cork (Hammond - 81' )
  • 20 Lallana
  • 42 Puncheon (Guly - 73' )
  • 07 Lambert
  • 22 Connolly (Sharp - 51' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Bialkowski
  • 03 Harding
  • 10 Guly
  • 14 Hammond
  • 11 Sharp
Ref: Dowd
Att: 17,904

Match Stats

Shots

9 4

On target

4 3

Corners

7 6

Fouls

8 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:25 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:54

The assistant referee signals for offside against Marlon King. Indirect free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.

88:49

Direct free kick taken by Richard Lambert.

88:49 Booking

Booking Steven Caldwell goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

88:46

Steven Caldwell concedes a free kick for a foul on Guly Do Prado.

86:05

Richard Lambert concedes a free kick for a foul on David Murphy. Direct free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

84:28

Centre by Wade Elliott, Jose Fonte makes a clearance.

82:54

Free kick crossed left-footed by David Murphy.

82:54 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee shows Daniel Fox a red card.

82:14

Daniel Fox concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Burke.

81:36

The assistant referee flags for offside against Marlon King. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.

80:41 Substitution

Substitution Dean Hammond replaces Jack Cork.

77:29

Marlon King is ruled offside. Kelvin Davis takes the indirect free kick.

76:25

Shot from long distance by Guirane N'Daw misses to the right of the goal.

75:33

Marlon King fouled by Aaron Martin, the ref awards a free kick. Steven Caldwell restarts play with the free kick.

75:33

Marlon King fouled by Aaron Martin, the ref awards a free kick. Steven Caldwell takes the free kick.

74:21

Direct free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.

74:21 Booking

Booking Guirane N'Daw receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

74:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Guly Do Prado by Guirane N'Daw.

72:54 Substitution

Substitution Guly Do Prado on for Jason Puncheon.

71:01

The ball is sent over by Wade Elliott, Aaron Martin makes a clearance.

70:03

The assistant referee signals for offside against Marlon King. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.

68:40

Aaron Martin concedes a free kick for a foul on Marlon King. Free kick taken by Jonathan Spector.

65:34 Substitution

Substitution Wade Elliott comes on in place of Adam Rooney.

65:22

Right-footed shot by Morgan Schneiderlin went wide right of the target.

62:22

Jose Fonte gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Rooney. David Murphy takes the direct free kick.

60:58

Effort on goal by Guirane N'Daw from a long way out goes over the bar.

60:31

Corner from the right by-line taken by Jordon Mutch, Richard Lambert makes a clearance.

45:38

Marlon King takes a shot. Save by Kelvin Davis.

56:47

Shot by Jordon Mutch from just outside the area goes over the net.

55:31

The official flags Billy Sharp offside. Boaz Myhill takes the free kick.

53:39

Jordon Mutch challenges Daniel Fox unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.

53:09

Corner taken by Jordon Mutch played to the near post, clearance by Jose Fonte.

52:58

Keith Fahey takes a shot. Blocked by Daniel Fox.

50:49

Short corner taken by Adam Lallana.

50:02 Substitution

Substitution (Southampton) makes a substitution, with Billy Sharp coming on for David Connolly.

48:33

Richard Lambert is ruled offside. Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

46:24

Corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch from the right by-line, Aaron Martin manages to make a clearance.

46:03

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jordon Mutch, Jose Fonte makes a clearance.

45:38

Marlon King takes a shot. Save made by Boaz Myhill.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +1:16 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +0:47

The assistant referee signals for offside against Adam Lallana. Boaz Myhill restarts play with the free kick.

45:00 +0:21

Richard Lambert takes a shot. Chris Burke gets a block in.

44:19

Morgan Schneiderlin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Keith Fahey. Direct free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

43:59

Daniel Fox sends in a cross.

42:05

David Connolly is ruled offside. Boaz Myhill restarts play with the free kick.

41:45

David Connolly takes a shot. Chris Burke gets a block in.

36:19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Cork by Guirane N'Daw. Free kick taken by Morgan Schneiderlin.

35:13

Foul by Richard Lambert on Steven Caldwell, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

34:43

Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Fahey on Adam Lallana. Free kick taken by Daniel Fox.

31:27

Outswinging corner taken by Daniel Fox from the left by-line.

30:50

Curtis Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Lallana. Richard Lambert has an effort direct from the free kick, blocked by Curtis Davies.

25:28

Jose Fonte is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

24:42

Short corner taken by Adam Lallana.

23:13

Corner taken by Daniel Fox from the right by-line, clearance by Guirane N'Daw.

21:07

Boaz Myhill restarts play with the free kick.

21:07 Booking

Booking The referee shows Daniel Fox a yellow card.

20:53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Burke by Daniel Fox.

19:01

Corner from the right by-line taken by Daniel Fox, clearance by Curtis Davies.

18:35

Adam Lallana decides to take the corner short.

18:26

A cross is delivered by Frazer Richardson, blocked by David Murphy.

16:25

Guirane N'Daw takes a shot. Blocked by Jose Fonte.

15:59

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch from the right by-line.

14:48

The offside flag is raised against David Connolly. Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

13:01

Guirane N'Daw challenges Morgan Schneiderlin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Fox restarts play with the free kick.

11:13

Jordon Mutch takes a outswinging corner.

7:55

Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin on Chris Burke, free kick awarded. The ball is crossed by Jonathan Spector, Headed effort from inside the area by Guirane N'Daw misses to the left of the goal.

5:59

David Murphy produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.

4:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Morgan Schneiderlin on Chris Burke. Strike comes in from David Murphy from the free kick.

4:47

The ball is delivered by Keith Fahey.

3:43

Marlon King challenges Jack Cork unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.

2:22

Corner taken by Jordon Mutch from the left by-line played to the near post, Aaron Martin manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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