Nikola Zigic ensured Birmingham kept their play-off hopes on track as they came from behind to draw with Bristol City.

Stephen Pearson gave the struggling visitors the lead with a fine left-foot finish before Jon Stead made it 2-0 with a well-executed effort.

Marlon King's deflected shot reduced the deficit and Zigic's goal, following Chris Burke's cross, secured a point.

Birmingham are five points above seventh-placed Middlesbrough.

Birmingham's last three games

17 April: Ipswich (away)

21 April: Brighton (away)

28 April: Reading (home)

The visitors, though, were left bitterly disappointed not to secure maximum points at St Andrew's

But the draw at least proves Derek McInnes's side - four points above the relegation zone - are up for the battle as they try to stay in the Championship.

They went ahead in the 21st minute through Pearson's superb strike, the Scottish midfielder netting his first goal of 2012 with an impressive finish.

It went from bad to worse for Birmingham 12 minutes later when Stead found space before firing across Blues keeper Colin Doyle and into the left-hand corner.

King provided the hosts with a lifeline just before the break, the former Coventry striker's deflected shot off Louis Carey finding the net.

And Zigic nudged home from close range in the 61st minute to make it 2-2 after a perfectly weighted delivery by Burke.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Birmingham City

  • 13 Doyle
  • 03 Murphy Booked
  • 04 Caldwell
  • 06 Ramage
  • 24 Davies
  • 07 Burke
  • 11 Townsend (Redmond - 76' )
  • 12 Mutch Booked
  • 18 Fahey (Gomis - 36' )
  • 09 King
  • 19 Zigic (Huseklepp - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 05 Pablo
  • 10 Huseklepp
  • 14 Gomis
  • 15 Elliott
  • 22 Redmond

Bristol City

  • 22 Gerken
  • 04 Fontaine
  • 06 Carey
  • 26 Foster
  • 33 Amougou
  • 11 Woolford (Kilkenny - 90' )
  • 14 Skuse
  • 21 Cisse (Ephraim - 78' )
  • 37 Pearson
  • 09 Stead (Adomah - 73' )
  • 39 Wood

Substitutes

  • 01 James
  • 08 Kilkenny
  • 10 Ephraim
  • 17 Bolasie
  • 27 Adomah
Ref: Stroud
Att: 23,230

Match Stats

Shots

9 7

On target

5 5

Corners

4 4

Fouls

7 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:07 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +3:44

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch played to the near post, clearance by Stephen Pearson.

90:00 +3:39

Chris Burke crosses the ball, clearance by Louis Carey.

90:00 +1:31

A cross is delivered by Liam Fontaine, clearance made by Steven Caldwell.

89:54 Substitution

Substitution Neil Kilkenny on for Martyn Woolford.

89:54 Substitution

Substitution Nikola Zigic leaves the field to be replaced by Erik Huseklepp.

89:09

Corner taken by Martyn Woolford, save made by Colin Doyle.

88:41

Outswinging corner taken by Martyn Woolford from the left by-line, clearance made by Curtis Davies.

86:48

Steven Caldwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Hogan Ephraim. Louis Carey takes the free kick.

86:34

The ball is crossed by Peter Ramage, save made by Dean Gerken.

86:02

Centre by Peter Ramage, Louis Carey makes a clearance.

85:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nikola Zigic on Andre Amougou. Andre Amougou takes the direct free kick.

85:01

The ball is crossed by Albert Adomah, Peter Ramage makes a clearance.

83:26

The offside flag is raised against Chris Wood. Free kick taken by Colin Doyle.

82:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nikola Zigic on Liam Fontaine. Liam Fontaine takes the free kick.

77:54 Substitution

Substitution Hogan Ephraim replaces Kalifa Cisse.

75:05 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Redmond joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andros Townsend.

74:40

Foul by David Murphy on Kalifa Cisse, free kick awarded.

75:05

Louis Carey takes the free kick.

75:05 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Redmond replaces Andros Townsend.

75:05 Booking

Booking David Murphy receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

74:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kalifa Cisse by David Murphy.

73:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Curtis Davies by Albert Adomah. Steven Caldwell takes the direct free kick.

72:13 Substitution

Substitution Jon Stead goes off and Albert Adomah comes on.

71:18

Louis Carey takes the free kick.

71:18 Booking

Booking Jordon Mutch is shown a yellow card.

70:37

Jordon Mutch gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Pearson.

69:34

Inswinging corner taken by Andros Townsend, Close range headed effort by Steven Caldwell clears the crossbar.

69:25

The ball is sent over by David Murphy.

68:13

Richard Foster produces a left-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.

65:13

Corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch, David Murphy produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

64:21

Chris Burke crosses the ball, Andros Townsend takes a shot. Blocked by Kalifa Cisse.

63:47

David Murphy produces a cross, Louis Carey manages to make a clearance.

63:27

The ball is crossed by Nikola Zigic, clearance by Richard Foster.

60:50

The assist for the goal came from Chris Burke.

60:50 Goal scored

Goal - Nikola Zigic - Birmingham 2 - 2 Bristol C Nikola Zigic finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Birmingham 2-2 Bristol City.

57:18

The ball is crossed by Richard Foster, Martyn Woolford takes a shot. Save made by Colin Doyle.

56:20

Chris Wood is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Steven Caldwell.

53:21

A cross is delivered by Chris Burke, clearance made by Andre Amougou.

51:18

Centre by Chris Burke, Andre Amougou makes a clearance.

49:25

Peter Ramage delivers the ball, Martyn Woolford makes a clearance.

48:55

Peter Ramage delivers the ball, clearance by Louis Carey.

48:40

Andros Townsend produces a cross, clearance made by Liam Fontaine.

47:39

The referee blows for offside. Dean Gerken restarts play with the free kick.

46:27

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Martyn Woolford, Shot by Jon Stead from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

46:21

Martyn Woolford produces a cross, clearance by Peter Ramage.

45:13

The referee penalises Nikola Zigic for handball. Dean Gerken takes the free kick.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:18 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:46

Jordon Mutch takes the inswinging corner, Jon Stead manages to make a clearance.

45:00 +1:14

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Colin Doyle.

45:00 +0:34

Nikola Zigic handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Andre Amougou.

45:00 +0:19

Martyn Woolford crosses the ball, Colin Doyle makes a comfortable save.

43:03

Assist on the goal came from Jordon Mutch.

43:03 Goal scored

Goal - Marlon King - Birmingham 1 - 2 Bristol C Marlon King finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Birmingham 1-2 Bristol City.

42:41

Chris Burke delivers the ball, Richard Foster makes a clearance.

41:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Burke by Kalifa Cisse. Jordon Mutch takes the free kick.

40:51

Chris Burke takes a shot. Save made by Dean Gerken.

37:39

The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Wood. Curtis Davies takes the direct free kick.

37:05

Unfair challenge on Andros Townsend by Kalifa Cisse results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Andros Townsend from left channel.

36:36

Martyn Woolford takes a shot. Save by Colin Doyle.

34:37

Free kick crossed right-footed by Andros Townsend, Louis Carey makes a clearance.

34:37 Substitution

Substitution (Birmingham) makes a substitution, with Morgaro Gomis coming on for Keith Fahey.

34:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Fontaine on Marlon King.

32:27

Kalifa Cisse provided the assist for the goal.

32:27 Goal scored

Goal - Jon Stead - Birmingham 0 - 2 Bristol C Jon Stead grabs a goal from inside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Birmingham 0-2 Bristol City.

29:08

Chris Wood concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Caldwell. Steven Caldwell restarts play with the free kick.

28:25

The ball is swung over by Richard Foster, save made by Colin Doyle.

26:40

A cross is delivered by Nikola Zigic, Richard Foster manages to make a clearance.

25:58

Effort on goal by Andros Townsend from long range goes harmlessly over the target.

25:27

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Martyn Woolford from the left by-line, clearance made by Curtis Davies.

20:18

Assist on the goal came from Martyn Woolford.

20:18 Goal scored

Goal - Stephen Pearson - Birmingham 0 - 1 Bristol C Stephen Pearson grabs a goal from just outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Birmingham 0-1 Bristol City.

19:12

The offside flag is raised against Jon Stead. Colin Doyle takes the free kick.

17:24

Andros Townsend has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide left of the target.

16:44

Andros Townsend sends in a cross, Dean Gerken makes a save.

13:39

Chris Burke sends in a cross, save by Dean Gerken.

11:28

Nikola Zigic takes a shot. Save by Dean Gerken.

10:00

Unfair challenge on Kalifa Cisse by Andros Townsend results in a free kick. Andre Amougou takes the free kick.

9:15

Chris Burke sends in a cross, clearance by Andre Amougou.

8:53

Martyn Woolford takes a shot. Curtis Davies gets a block in.

7:52

The ball is delivered by Andros Townsend.

5:57

Unfair challenge on Louis Carey by Marlon King results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Gerken.

0:00

The game begins.

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