Birmingham 1 Barnsley 1

Chris Burke's late strike was enough to preserve Birmingham's unbeaten home record.

Burke curled a well-placed shot past goalkeeper Luke Steele from 18 yards for minutes from time to rescue what had seemed like an unlikely point.

Chris Hughton's side had fell behind to a 25-yard thunderbolt from Jacob Butterfield 33 minutes in and they were distinctly second best until the final quarter of the game.

But the arrival of substitutes Wade Elliott and Nikola Zigic galvanised the home side and a late surge was enough to avoid defeat.

As was expected Hughton made several changes from the team that started against Manchester City in Wednesday's Carling Cup third round defeat.

Boaz Myhill was recalled in goal at the expense of Colin Doyle while Stephen Carr, Steven Caldwell and Liam Ridgewell all regained their starting births at the back.

Jonathan Spector retained his place from midweek but was moved forward into a four man midfield, alongside fellow cup performers Burke, Nathan Redmond and Jean Beausejour.

Up front, Chris Wood and Marlon King got the nod, while Zigic made the bench for the second consecutive game after shaking off his long term hip injury.

Blues began the game keen to end a run of three straight defeats, but they suffered an early set back after Curtis Davies limped off injured just nine minutes in.

The former West Brom and Villa defender had earned himself a booking three minutes earlier for a wayward tackle on Jay McEveley, but came out of the challenge limping.

David Murphy replaced him and Blues should have fallen behind in the 13th minute, when Jim O'Brien fired wide from inside the box from Danny Drinkwater's cross.

Drinkwater then thumped a 35 yard free-kick well over the bar and Matthew Done shot tamely into Myhill's arms from distance, as the visitors settled well.

Blues were struggling to retain possession and two poor long-range efforts from Jean Beausejour were the best they could muster in reply in the opening 30 minutes.

Barnsley were forced to make a change of their own on the half hour mark, when Jordan Clark replaced Done, but it did nothing to disrupt the visitors.

Myhill kept the scores level with an athletic save from Butterfield 32 minutes in, but the midfielder opened the scoring in spectacular fashion a minute later with a 25 yard piledriver.

It was the first goal Blues have conceded in the league at home this season.

At the other end, Ridgewell headed over from a decent position, but there was no disguising they were being outmanoeuvred and out-thought. Surprisingly, Hughton made no changes at the break.

Redmond did well to dispossess David Perkins midway inside the Barnsley half, but he could only guide his shot wide from distance nine minutes after the restart.

Hughton made his second change of the game two minutes later, when Elliott replaced Spector, but Blues continued to struggle.

Myhill parried away a decent effort from Clark on 61 minutes, after the midfielder had broken into the box.

Misfiring Wood was replaced by Zigic for the remaining 26 minutes, but it was Barnsley who initally continued to threaten as Stephen Foster shot wide from distance four minutes later.

At the other end, King headed into Luke Steele's hands and Elliott saw a fierce effort deflected wide as Blues finally began to find their feet.

And King appeared to have won a penalty after being pulled down in the box, only to see the decision given the other way for handball seconds earlier.

But Barnsley reminded their hosts of the danger they still posed when Drinkwater's 25-yard thumper rattled the crossbar with 16 minutes left.

Butterfield then powered inches wide from a similar distance, as the game became stretched and Murphy was booked for a foul on Bobby Hassell.

At the other end, Burke saw a low drive deflected wide with six minutes remaining as Blues began to increase the pressure.

The winger finally found the net with less than three minutes remaining, curling home from 18 yards out.

The goal lifted the home side and King could have snatched a winner in the final minute of normal time, but his swivelling shot on the turn came back off the post with Steele beaten.

In the end, both sides had to settle for a point after a tough battle.