Birmingham 1 Aston Villa 1 - Report and pictures

Analysis

In what was the first time the two sides have met in the second tier since the 1987/88 campaign, Birmingham dominated for long spells but found it hard to break through a resolute Villa defence.

Steve Bruce, on his return to St Andrews, saw his side take the lead against the run of play when Gary Gardner powerfully headed home a Jordan Ayew free-kick.

Blues got the equaliser they deserved after the interval when David Davis rifled home a low drive from 20-yards.

Gary Rowett's side thought they had scored in the first half when Clayton Donaldson's header bounced off the underside of the bar and seemed to have crossed the line. But replays later suggested only half the ball made it across.

And in another moment of controversy, the match marked the return to Villa's team of Gabby Abgonlahor - with the forward making his first appearance for the club in over seven months.

Both managers sprung a surprise when handing in their team sheets with Blues boss Rowett showing his intent to go on the offensive by recalling striker Che Adams.

It meant the hosts lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with the former Sheffield United man starting up front alongside Clayton Donaldson and Jacques Maghoma.

For Villa, the biggest shock came on the substitute's bench where Agbonlahor was included in a match day squad for the first time in seven months.

Otherwise, Steve Bruce made one change from the side that beat Fulham ­with Albert Adomah coming in for Rudy Gestede.

In what was an intense, cauldron like atmosphere at St Andrews, the home side started on the front foot with Rowett's men pressing high up the pitch to ensure Villa's players had no time on the ball.

And their early dominance saw them come a whisker away from breaking the deadlock in the 19^th minute when Ryan Shotton's deep cross was headed against the underside of the bar by Donaldson.

The striker wheeled away in celebration with the ball seeming to have bounced over the line. But referee Mike Dean waved play on with replays suggesting only half the ball have crossed over.

Rowett's side had enjoyed an impressive opening half hour.

And yet, out of nothing, they found themselves a goal down when Jordan Ayew was fouled 35-yards from goal with the forward then dusting himself down to whip in the resultant free-kick.

That was met with a towering header by Gardner who rose above everyone to powerfully place the ball into the top corner and beyond the outstretched arms of Tomasz Kuszczak.

The goal took seemed to take the wind out of the home side's sails, with Villa then growing in stature and able to get to half-time looking much more dominant in midfield.

Birmingham though came flying out the traps after the interval with Jonathan Spector and Jacques Maghoma both having a go from distance after good build-up play.

And the home side should have pulled level shortly after when Maghoma robbed Alan Hutton of possession and then darted through on goal only to scuff a weak effort at Pierluigi Gollini.

Blues' intensity ensured they continued to dominate but without creating any clear cut chances as the clock ticked past the 70 minute mark.

But they then got the equaliser their overall performance had deserved when Davis tricked his way past Gardner before rifling a low drive into the bottom corner from 20-yards.

With St Andrews bouncing, the home side went in search of a second and they almost got when the ball fell kindly in the box for Donaldson but the forward lashed wide from 12-yards when he should have scored.

Bruce responded by introducing Agbonlahor for Ayew for what was the forwards first appearance in a Villa shirt since March 19.

It was the hosts who continued on the offensive though and they almost won it with five minutes remaining when Michael Morrison rose highest from a corner.

The defender's header took a deflection and fell for Ryan Shotton but the former Stoke man stabbed the ball over the bar less than six-yards from goal.

Key moments

6 Jordan Spector finds space on the right and delivers a low cross which Villa hack clear.

12 Jacques Maghoma whips in a corner that Nathan Baker heads clear with Ryan Shotton waiting.

19 Blues think they have scored when Clayton Donaldson heads Shotton's cross against the underside of the bar. Ball looked to have bounced over the line but replays suggest only three-quarters of the ball made it over.

20 Villa responded with Tomasz Kuszcazak having to race off his line to get to a long ball ahead of Jonathan Kodija.

24 Donaldson gets in behind the Villa defence before curling a strike over.

25 Sub for Villa as Ross McCormack replaces Albert Adomah.

30 GOAL VILLA. Gary Gardener powerfully heads in Jordan Ayew's free-kick.

49 Good build up play from Birmingham sees Donaldson tee up Jordan Spector but the defender fires wildly over.

50 Maghoma has a strike from 20-yards which Pierluigi Gollini gathers.

53 Maghoma robs Alan Hutton of possession and darts through on goal only to scuff a weak effort at Gollini.

71 GOAL BLUES David Davis tricks his way past Gardner before rifling in a low drive from 20-yards.

76 Ball breaks for Donaldson in the box but the forward lashes a strike wide with the goal at his mercy

82 Kodija heads wide from a corner for Villa.

85 Ryan Shotton stabs the ball over the bar from close range following a Blues corner.

Position in the table

Championship: 15th

Teams

Villa: Gollini, Hutton, Baker, Chester, Amavi, Jedinak, Gardner, Westwood (Gestede 87), Adomah (McCormack 26), Ayew (Agbonlahor 81), Kodjia.

Subs not used: Bunn, Elphick, Tshibola, Cissokho.

Blues: Kuszczak; Spector, Morrison, Shotton, Wiggins (Robinson 90), Kieftenbeld (Cotterill 70), Gleeson, Davis, Adams (Jutkiewicz 65), Maghoma, Donaldson.

Subs not used: Legzdins, Fabbrini, Brown, Stewart.