League Two side Northampton Town earned a credible 2-2 draw with Championship outfit Birmingham City in their pre-season clash at Sixfields Stadium this evening.
On a night that saw Gary Rowett's side play two friendlies, the other a 2-0 win against Shrewsbury Town, the Blues were pushed close by a spirited Northampton side.
However it was the visitors who dominated early on as Andrew Shinnie picked Lee Novak out with a slick back-heel, who in turn teed up Demarai Gray to fire home inside the opening three minutes.
Ryan Cresswell nearly headed his side level when he met a Nicky Adams corner midway through the first half, but his effort flew narrowly over the bar.
Trialist Peniel Mlapa was the next to go close as the Borussia Monchengladbach striker just failed to get the required contact on a Novak cross.
Just as it seemed the Championship side would carry their early lead through to the interval, Adams cut inside from the right and curled a left-footed effort around Adam Legzdins to level the tie.
Things nearly got even better for the Cobblers as Lawson D'Ath had the ball in the back of the net 10 minutes after the restart, but his effort was ruled out as he knocked the ball out of Legzdins' hands.
It was a warning shot to the Blues, however, who did find themselves behind when Adams finished well inside the Birmingham area on the hour mark, only for Novak to pull Rowett's team level on 68 minutes.
Both sides had late chances to snatch the win, but it remained level at full time.
Joe Sharratt
