By Tim Hodges
Birmingham City 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
The Albion came away with a creditable draw from the Midlands but should really have come away from St Andrew’s with all three points.
With huge piles of snow cleared around the side of the pitch, City took the lead when Steven Caldwell headed in Rob Hall’s outswinging corner from close range.
The Albion heads didn’t drop and David Lopez had a chance to equalise soon after with a curling effort that flew just over.
Less than 10 minutes after the Brum opener Ashley Barnes received a ball from the industrious Andrea Orlandi and the Devonian fired it low past England keeper Jake Butland to put Albion back in it.
The Seagulls were now in command and spraying the ball over the pitch. Just before half-time Wayne Bridge lofted in a cross which David Lopez volleyed home from the edge of the six-yard box from a tight angle.
Albion had chances to extend their lead in the second half. Dean Hammond had a good chance from a corner and Barnes could have done better from Orlandi’s back heel.
With 10 minutes left Vicente made his first appearance since mid-August. The former Spain international appeared to play in the centre forward role.
But with time almost up, the controversial Marlon King crossed into the box and Nikola Zigic met it with a header that Tomasz Kuszczak appeared to have collected but somehow the Poland international fumbled the ball into the back of the net.
Albion face Blackburn on Tuesday (22 January) at Ewood Park in a restaged match that was postponed exactly a month before.
