Analysis of Blues 1 Man United 1

Pride comes before a fall but as the Blues bandwagon rolls on it's hard to see where they will stumble.

A draw against champions Manchester United at St Andrew's on Saturday made it 12 successive top flight matches without defeat – a new club record.

Birmingham can feel rightly proud of a run which has seen them stride up the Premier League to within touching distance of the European spots.

But boss Alex McLeish has acknowledged the run must end sometime and hid his delight well in the aftermath of the weekend's work.

The manager has been stoic throughout and remained unmoved again after claiming his first point against the man still referred to as "the boss" after playing under Sir Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen.

Several of Ferguson's former charges have gone into management, but none of their stock can be higher than McLeish's right now.

The Blues boss has taken the club from relegation candidates at the start of the campaign to potential European suitors – although the Scot and his squad have been quick to play down that kind of talk.

Avoiding relegation is still seen as the top priority but with 33 points and a gap of 15 to the drop zone, they are starting to breathe easier.

But, like it or not, form dictates they must be classed as potential European chasers, especially now St Andrew's is a place to be feared.

Chelsea and now the reigning champions have both left thankful to take a point and home defeats to Villa and Bolton are a distant memory. Their miserly defensive home record of just six goals conceded is the Premier League's best alongside Chelsea and Fulham.

The summer purchases of Scott Dann and Roger Johnson were questioned due to the pair's lack of Premier League experience.

But, when compared to Wes Brown and Jonny Evans – who have played a combined total of 218 top flight games to Dann and Johnson's 37 – they are a steal. The £8.5million pair outshone their more illustrious counterparts – a testament to McLeish's eye for a bargain.

Even when armed with an apparent £40million war chest, the Blues boss is unlikely to spend big. The £3million purchase of Sporting Gijon's Michel shows there is money available but McLeish will not risk his team and the club's future.

The Scot is fearful of upsetting the rhythm and momentum his men have generated. Individually none can be described as world class, but as a unit they have gelled and are now upwardly mobile. But the boss must address the goalscoring issue with just nine at home and 21 all season.

For all their efforts, Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome are limited and a new frontman is needed if Blues are to make the next step.

A top class striker would spearhead an industrious side willing to outwork the competition and the biggest compliment United paid Birmingham was arriving with one man up front – despite looking to overhaul Chelsea at the Premier League summit.

Granted, the lone striker was Wayne Rooney but if Blues needed any more indication of their current reputation that was it. The United star struggled against a back-line filled with determination and bravery. Johnson and Dann were immovable.

The two banks of four frustrated United throughout and restricted them to just one clear cut chance. Then it was Joe Hart's turn to shine by superbly denying Rooney after the hitman had latched onto Antonio Valencia's pass.

That was in the 24th minute and, in the previous 23, United were forced into hopeful long range efforts which never troubled England hopeful Hart.

The champions were stifled and showed little creativity, their five-man midfield giving them the numerical advantage but one they never capitalised on. Inevitably they dominated possession but when it came to the crunch they were met by Birmingham's brick wall of Johnson, Dann, Stephen Carr and Liam Ridgewell.

Blues' defence were ably supported by their midfield colleagues, as they ground out a foothold in the game through sheer attrition and determination.

It took them 38 minutes to force an effort on goal – when Paul Scholes deflected Jerome's shot behind – but from the resulting corner they took the lead.

A set of head tennis between Benitez and Lee Bowyer led to Jerome, a boyhood United fan, firing in from five yards. From the visitors' view it was calamitous but Blues didn't care. They were in front and, instead of defending the slender advantage, they aimed to increase it.

They opened the second period strongly, but United soon found their stride and levelled in controversial style just after the hour. Patrice Evra drilled the ball across and there was little Dann could do but divert it beyond Hart.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside against Rooney but referee Mark Clattenburg overruled his assistant – much to the hosts' anger – because the striker wasn't interfering with play.

It was harsh on Blues as United's pressure finally told but they hit back almost immediately when Tomasz Kuszczak beat out Benitez's snap shot.

Rooney, Scholes and Michael Carrick all tried their luck from distance as the visitors toiled against their robust opponents.

As United struggled, Blues grew in confidence with Jerome seeing more of the ball and it was from his run Fletcher received his marching orders after the midfielder brought down the flying striker.

There was still time for Johnson's volley to be parried out by Kuszczak, as it was United who were left holding on.

By Nick Mashiter