Birmingham City 2-2 Swansea City: Jordan James scores late Blues equaliser

Swansea City have dropped more points from winning positions than any other Championship side this season (23), having taken the lead in 10 away games and won only four of them

Substitute Jordan James rescued a point for Birmingham boss Tony Mowbray in his first game in charge with an injury-time equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw against Swansea City.

Birmingham twice came from behind in an entertaining game at St Andrew's.

Jamal Lowe's second-half goal looked like earning Swansea the win in boss Luke Williams' first league game.

Harry Darling headed Swansea ahead in 36 minutes, but Siriki Dembele levelled two minutes later with a firm finish.

The manner of the draw will be a timely boost for Birmingham after their wretched run of form, with James' goal sparking wild scenes of celebration for a club whose fans have not had too many moments to celebrate in recent months.

All eyes were inevitably on the dugouts for this one, with both bosses taking charge of a first league game.

Mowbray made five changes from the side beaten by Leeds in Wayne Rooney's last match in charge, with the former Sunderland boss offered a warm reception from the home faithful as he was introduced at St Andrew's.

Mowbray's immediate task is clear with his side having been in dire form, beginning the game six points above the Championship relegation zone.

New Swansea head coach Williams made two changes to the XI that beat West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day in caretaker boss Alan Sheehan's final game in charge.

It was Birmingham who started the brighter side as they missed two early chances with Koji Miyoshi dragging his shot wide before Scott Hogan's acrobatic effort was saved by Carl Rushworth.

Rushworth was the busier goalkeeper and also needed to save from Dembele, while Krystian Bielik's effort was blocked as Birmingham created plenty of opportunities that they failed to take.

With all those chances missed, Swansea punished the hosts' profligacy by scoring with their first attempt on target as Darling powered home a header from Josh Tymon's cross.

However, Swansea - who have dropped more points from winning positions than any other Championship side this season - could not hold an advantage that in truth flattered them as Birmingham levelled within two minutes, Dembele finishing emphatically from a tight angle after a fine run.

Dembele should have doubled his tally just after the break when Hogan sent him clean through, but Rushworth denied him before Dembele turned provider for Hogan, who flashed his shot wide.

However, gaps were appearing at the other end and moments after Darling rattled the crossbar with another header, John Ruddy produced a superb save to deny Lowe as Swansea began to exert pressure on the hosts.

Ruddy's save only gave Birmingham a short reprieve as Swansea took the lead when Lowe converted from Tymon's cross on 58 minutes after Swansea's clever and patient approach play produced the goal they had been threatening.

The goal deflated the hosts who never looked like producing a second equaliser until Wales international James finished emphatically in the third minute of injury time after bright work from Lee Buchanan.

The draw lifts Swansea to 15th in the Championship, while Birmingham remain 20th.

Birmingham City boss Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio WM:

"I was pleased that we created chances, particularly in the first half, lots of chances and we should have scored more than the goals we did.

"I genuinely think that I am not sure Swansea deserved to score the two goals that they scored, it wasn't as if you thought 'they look really threatening or dangerous'.

"I thought we managed them pretty well and yet we conceded a goal with a free header and let them break away and nick in front of the centre half to score the second, which is frustrating really.

"I thought there were plenty of positives and we learned a lot about the team. I am still giving them bullet points because it is hard to change the whole ethos of a team in three or four days."

Swansea City boss Luke Williams told BBC Radio Wales:

"I am only disappointed because there was so little time left when we conceded.

"But I don't think that we have the right to be too disappointed because I don't think Birmingham should go away from the game with no points at all, because I think they created good chances.

"But by the time you get to that stage of the game [and you are ahead] you expect that you can see the game out, so there is some level of disappointment there.

"I saw some very encouraging things that are essential for a good team, but we need time to work to try and improve our levels."