Stoke City 2-2 Birmingham City: Lee Bowyer's Blues battle to draw in Potteries

Lee Bowyer's Blues have not won away from home since late October but this was the fourth draw in the last eight games on their travels

Birmingham City let slip an early lead in the Potteries, but then battled back to get a point as their Midlands derby with Stoke City ended all square.

Teenage midfielder Jordan James put Blues ahead with his first goal for the club on 12 minutes before Tyrese Campbell levelled on 25 minutes with his first league goal for the Potters in over two months.

Campbell then put Stoke ahead on 52 minutes, only for Gary Gardner to level it up again just six minutes later with his fifth Championship goal of the season.

After a game of only six shots on target, of which four went in, Michael O'Neill's Stoke are 13th in the Championship, but only six points off the play-off places, while Blues remain 18th, seven points behind the Potters.

But, although their vocal 2,067-strong away end could not inspire a first away win since 30 October, Blues are now 16 points clear of trouble and demonstrating battling performances under head coach Lee Bowyer, 11 months on from his appointment, along with technical director Craig Gardner and new managing director Ian Dutton.

Gary Gardner's 58th-minute equaliser was the midfielder's fifth Championship goal of the season

After in-form Lyle Taylor, who had scored three times in four games since his loan move from Nottingham Forest, hit the post, Blues got the opening goal their lively start deserved when 17-year-old James was on hand to score after Onel Hernandez burst forward after intercepting Ben Wilmot's slack pass.

But a hopeful lofted pass from Manchester City loan man Taylor Harwood-Bellis sprung the Blues offside trap and, although Campbell miscontrolled, that wrong-footed keeper Neil Etheridge, allowing him to roll the ball into the back of the net.

Campbell then curled in a far more memorable goal - his fourth of the season - to put Stoke in front.

But, when Harwood-Bellis skewed Taylor's cross straight into the path of Gardner, the Blues midfielder fired past Joe Bursik from close range as Stoke were forced to settle for their fourth draw in three games.

Blues are back in action on Tuesday at Reading, while Stoke play again the following evening at home to former Potters boss Nathan Jones' Luton.

Potters boss Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:

"We're doing everything to try and win. The crowd was good. They want to see a team that's trying to win every game. We are not winning enough but our intentions are certainly there.

"There are good draws and bad draws in this league. This was a bad draw for us. We need to turn games like this into three points.

"But we played against a packed defence and it was hard to break that down. There were a few opportunities where we could have done better."

Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer told BBC Radio WM:

"The least we deserved was a point. We showed that never-say-die attitude again and just never gave in.

"Jordan James is a 17-year-old kid who's learning the game. For me, the finish and the area where he's scored and the composure he has to pass the ball in the corner, these are the things we work on. So it's pleasing for me because he's listening and improving.

"If he keeps doing what he's doing and showing the hunger and the desire to improve, then his future is as bright as he wants to be. He's a tremendous asset. He's a good player and, if he wasn't, trust me, he wouldn't be playing. People are going to be looking at him for sure."