Birmingham City 1-1 Barnsley

Bottom-of-the-table Barnsley fought back to earn a deserved draw against Birmingham but their search for a first victory since the reappointment of Danny Wilson as manager continues.

Nikola Zigic put the hosts ahead with a simple tap in early in the first half.

But the visitors created a number of opportunities with Stephen Dawson and Peter Ramage going close before Jacob Mellis struck with a free-kick.

Despite a hard-earned point, Barnsley remain five points from safety.

Wilson has now drawn two and lost two matches since he was appointed manager on 17 December, although the draw at Birmingham did prevent a third successive defeat.

The Blues extend their unbeaten record to 10 games, but their home form continues to be patchy with Lee Clark's team winning just twice at St Andrews this season.

The hosts were ahead within 10 minutes when Zigic converted a low Callum Reilly cross after it had evaded three Barnsley defenders.

They nearly doubled their lead but Dan Burn headed Olly Lee's corner onto the crossbar and from then on Barnsley had the better of the match.

David Perkins tested Darren Randolph with a 25-yard strike, while a fumble from the goalkeeper then gave Mellis a chance to level, but the unmarked midfielder somehow screwed his shot wide of the far post.

Further chances came Barnsley's way as they pushed forward and a goalline clearance from Zigic prevented Ramage from heading home from a corner.

The equaliser eventually came in the 61st minute when Mellis curled in the free-kick to earn a point for a team who have now won just one of their past 12 Championship matches.

Birmingham manager Lee Clark:

"We feel we have dropped two points. It is frustrating but we should have won the game, it is an example to my young players to do the right things.

"Unfortunately there appears to be a common theme in the home games, we start so well and go ahead but then have a nervy spell. The opposition then get a goal and then we kick on again - it seems as if have to get angry before we put the opposition under pressure.

"I was frustrated for the players because over the festive period they have given me everything. I was in bit of a dilemma at half-time, I had three players physically sick and they were running on empty in the second half."

Barnsley manager Danny Wilson:

"Obviously I am encouraged by this performance. We haven't gained many points away from home and to get a result that not many people expected is a fine performance.

"After going behind to an early goal people might have expected the floodgates to open but we turned it around.

"There was nothing between the two teams but there are plenty of points to play for and if we can repeat the kind of performance we showed against Birmingham we will close the gap between the teams above us."