Birmingham blunted by Blackburn

The Premiership's basement club, Blackburn Rovers FC, battled back from 3-1 down to secure a share of the spoils against Birmingham City FC at Ewood Park - Steve Bruce's side's sixth draw in eight games.

Dunn return
Steven Reid and Paul Gallagher scored two goals in six minutes early in the second half after goals from Darren Anderton, Robbie Savage and former Blackburn player David Dunn had given the visitors a comfortable half-time lead.

Marauding Melchiot
Mark Hughes's side had got off to a perfect start when Matt Jansen broke the deadlock after just four minutes following a superb dummy from Paul Dickov which gave him space in the box. But Birmingham took control and Anderton broke the offside trap to equalise on 17 minutes with a toe-poke from six metres out.

Pivotal substitution
Savage gave the visitors the lead on 38 minutes after the Rovers defence failed to deal with Mario Melchiot's right-wing cross and the Dutchman was again instrumental as Dunn increased the advantage in added time at the end of the first half. Hughes brought on David Thompson on 56 minutes and the midfield player had an immediate impact, teeing up Reid for his first goal for the club.

Late chance
Thompson also helped set up the third Rovers goal, flighting a long ball over the defence that Dickov collected and struck goalwards before Gallagher eventually crashed the ball over the line. The waspish Dickov had an opportunity to secure all three points right at the end of the game but Brad Friedel saved well and Birmingham hung on to move up to 14th, while Blackburn remain at the foot of the table.