Nikola Zigic headed in a stoppage-time equaliser to earn Birmingham City a draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at St Andrew's.
© PA Photos
The Seagulls came from behind to lead the Blues 2-1 at half time thanks to goals from Ashley Barnes and David Lopez, after Steven Caldwell had headed the hosts in front. However, Zigic met a Marlon King cross in the dying moments of the match to secure a point for the home side.
It was the visitors who made the stronger start to the match when Lopez drove down the right with 11 minutes gone before delivering a low cross into the penalty area, but it was just too far in front of Andrea Orlandi.
The home side responded just a minute later when Chris Burke cut in from the right before curling a shot just wide of the far post.
It was Birmingham who took the lead after 18 minutes when captain Caldwell rose highest in the penalty area before heading the ball into the back of the net from Robbie Hall's corner.
Brighton made a positive response and came close to equalising just two minutes later, but Liam Bridcutt's curling effort from the edge of the box was just wide of the mark following Lopez's corner.
However, the Seagulls did find a leveller in the 24th minute when Barnes played a one-two with Orlandi before directing his shot into the bottom corner past Jack Butland.
Birmingham nearly went back in front a few minutes later when Wade Elliott teed up Callum Reilly, but the latter shot over from 18 yards.
The away side came close to taking the lead in the 32nd minute, but Gordon Greer couldn't find the back of the net from Lopez's free kick.
However, Brighton did take the lead just moments before half time, when Wayne Bridge's cross was thumped home on the volley by Lopez.
After the break, the Blues nearly found an equaliser but were denied by Thomas Kuzack, who tipped over Hall's header from a Zigic flick-on.
Brighton had a chance a few minutes later, when Inigo Calderon crossed for Orlandi, but his shot deflected just over.
Orlandi came close again soon after, but his 25-yard free kick was tipped over by Butland.
Second-half substitute Will Buckley nearly created a goal when he fed Orlandi from the right, whose back-heel created an opening for Barnes, but his shot went just over.
Birmingham came close 11 minutes from time when Paul Caddis's cross from deep met the head of Zigic, but the striker's looping effort was marginally over.
Zigic again came close to drawing the home side level when he went one on one with Kuszczak, however Greer recovered to twice block shots from the Serbian.
In the dying minutes Birmingham finally found a leveller, when King crossed the ball for Zigic to head home from close range.
There was still time for Butland to pull off a save from Dean Hammond's late drive.
Matt Cotton
