Portsmouth 1-1 Birmingham

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Birmingham came away from Fratton Park with a point, despite playing the whole of the second half with 10 men.

Nicky Butt was sent off on 45 minutes for kicking out at Dario Silva at 1-1 but Portsmouth could not capitalise.

Lomana LuaLua gave Pompey the lead when he connected with Laurent Robert's corner before Jiri Jarosik headed in a Jermaine Pennant free-kick to level.

Silva, Gary O'Neil and Zvonomir Vukic had chances to score in a one-sided finish but Birmingham held out.

Blues manager Steve Bruce has bemoaned the number of injuries that have blighted the club in the last 18 months.

When Jarosik trooped off with a knock before the break, insult was added to injury as it set in motion a chain of events that looked likely to undermine Birmingham.

Replacement Muzzy Izzet fouled Silva on the edge of the area and from the resultant free-kick Butt lashed out at the Uruguayan, referee Dermot Gallagher wielding red after consultation with his linesman.

Bruce sacrificed Mikael Forssell to shore up his defence with Jamie Clapham and the ploy paid off.

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They survived numerous scares, most notably when strong claims for a penalty were waved away after Olivier Tebily visibly tugged back Silva as he turned to shoot on the edge of the area.

Taylor palmed away a fierce O'Neil drive and saved low to his right from Silva, while substitute Vukic blazed a one-on-one over.

Ironically, the visiting defence, which had frequently been dazzled by LuaLua's dancing feet in the first half, looked more assured a man down and with their backs to the wall.

With a full complement they were undone on four minutes, falling behind when LuaLua ghosted through a statuesque defence to stab into the net from two yards.

However, home delight was shortlived.

Pennant flighted a looping free-kick into the Pompey area two minutes later and equally woeful marking allowed Jarosik space to climb high and head in an equaliser.

The Czech midfielder's next notable contribution to the game was to depart shortly before half-time after coming off second best in a challenge with Richard Hughes.

Butt was to follow him off for good moments later and it became a salvage operation for the visitors.

The red card meant Birmingham came off second best in much of the second half when they conjured few chances in attack.

But they held firm at the back, riding their luck before deserving it in injury time when Taylor struggled to hold a fierce Robert free-kick before recovering to beat away the loose ball ahead of O'Neil.

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Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin
"Sometimes when you play against a team who has had a man sent off it is difficult.

"It is difficult to find the space. We deserved to win and we had a lot of chances to score but had no success.

"Only one man didn't see the penalty but sometimes you are unlucky. In front of the goal it's too difficult for us to score at the moment."

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce
"It had been a decent game until the sending off but after that you knew what to expect, we were going to defend and try to hit them on the break.

"In my day the referee would have just had a quiet word, then that is the end of it.

"We're English, we like to see a bit of of spirit. If we're not careful we are going to spoil the whole spectacle."

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Portsmouth: Ashdown, Priske, O'Brien, Stefanovic, Vignal, O'Neil, Diao, Hughes (Vukic 65), Robert, LuaLua (Karadas 76), Silva.
Subs Not Used: Westerveld, Skopelitis, Viafara.

Booked: Silva, Diao.

Goals: LuaLua 4.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Tebily, Upson, Cunningham, Gray,Pennant (Pandiani 90), Jarosik (Izzet 42), Butt, Johnson,Forssell (Clapham 45), Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Martin Taylor.

Sent Off: Butt (45).

Goals: Jarosik 6.

Att: 19,319

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).