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Birmingham City vs Burnley. Sky Bet Championship.

St Andrews StadiumAttendance16,763.

Phillips comes to Blues' rescue

Image: Phillips: Equalised

Birmingham City's push for automatic promotion took a knock after a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley.

Veteran striker earns point after Paterson's early opener

Birmingham City's push for automatic promotion took a knock after a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley. Martin Paterson gave cup heroes Burnley the lead after just three minutes as the Clarets sought a first away win of the year. But the evergreen Kevin Phillips earned a point for Blues as the striker equalised on 37 minutes before Burnley held firm in the second half. The visitors started impressively when Paterson was on hand to tap in from close range in just the third minute after Robbie Blake's cross-shot had fizzed across the face of the Birmingham goal. And, after Paterson's 11th league goal of the season had put them in front, Steven Thompson volleyed over the bar from the edge of the area. Blake then scuffed a shot wide following good work from Paterson, while at the other end Cameron Jerome also missed the target with a left-footed effort from 20 yards. Burnley came close to doubling their lead after 20 minutes but Maik Taylor reacted well to keep out Thompson's strike with his feet. Chris McCann and Blake both saw shots fly wide of Taylor's right-hand post as Burnley continued to dominate, while Williams tested the Blues goalkeeper with a 25-yard strike.

Against run of play

However, Phillips equalised for Birmingham against the run of play when slotting past Brian Jensen and Jerome almost put the hosts ahead when he shot narrowly wide on the stroke of half-time. Williams blazed a long-range shot over the bar in the opening minutes of the second period, before Lee Bowyer went close for Blues with a drilled effort from 25 yards. Fellow January signing Scott Sinclair then failed to test Jensen from distance, but the Burnley goalkeeper was forced into action a minute later as he tipped Larsson's curling free-kick around the post. Jensen was required again shortly before the hour mark to make a routine save from Lee Carsley, while the lively Blake should have done better for Burnley when firing straight at Taylor from 12 yards. McLeish introduced Carlos Costly for his debut in the 63rd minute, with Hameur Bouazza making way, but Blues were still unable to find a breakthrough. Jerome headed over the bar from Sinclair's corner after 68 minutes, but from then on chances were at a premium as the visitors defended solidly. Owen Coyle's men had a chance to grab three points with seven minutes remaining, but Thompson was unable to beat Taylor with his close-range header.

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