Birmingham defender Martin Taylor went from villain to hero inside the final 10 minutes as he made up for his defensive blunder with a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Barnsley.

Taylor missed his headed clearance with 10 minutes to go to leave Michael Mifsud with the simple chance of putting the home side ahead.

Taylor would, however, grab a point that proved precious after leaders Wolves could also only draw at home to Ipswich.

But the result means Blues have still not won away from home in 2009 - a worrying run that threatens to undermine their push for automatic promotion.

Barnsley boss Simon Davey opted for an attacking 4-3-3 formation with Jon Macken drafted in alongside Maltese pair Michael Mifsud and Daniel Bogdanovic in attack.

Birmingham made two changes with Carlos Costly and Damien Johnson replacing the injured Marcus Bent and Lee Bowyer. Striker Garry O'Connor made a return to the bench after being out since October due to a groin injury.

Costly spurned the first chance of the game, after 10 minutes, when he headed over under pressure from a Sebastian Larrson free-kick.

At the other end Franck Queudrue made a diving block at the far post to deny a goal-bound Bogdanovic volley.

As the game settled Blues extra man in midfield meant they had most of the ball, but too readily wasted it with errant passes and hopeful long balls forward.

After a half hour, Costly finally chose to run at the home defence and should have been rewarded for his craft when his low centre found Johnson at the near post. The midfielder, however, could only toe-poke his close-range chance wide.

Jerome then had a goal ruled out for offside after 34 minutes as Blues started to provide evidence they could turn their possession into something more tangible.

It was the home side, however, who perhaps should have been given the chance to open the scoring when they had a penalty claim waved away after 53 minutes.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce cut a pass before getting in behind the defence via a one-two with Macken. But, just as the Jamaican was about to receive the ball back, he tripped with Larsson in close attendance. Referee Graham Horwood waved away the penalty claim, which drew an animated display of bemusement from Campbell-Ryce.

Larsson then almost played Johnson in at the other end but he did not have the pace to get on the end of his through-ball.

The game though was stepping up in pace and Johnson was soon substituted for the quicker Scott Sinclair.

The on-loan Chelsea winger's first action was to play in Jerome, the striker shooting straight at Heinz Muller from an angle.

But it was the home side who went ahead 10 minutes from the end when Martin Taylor mis-timed his leap as he attempted to clear a cross.

He could only help the ball on to Mifsud behind him who had the time and the composure to take a touch before picking his spot from just six yards.

Taylor would, however, make up for his defensive blunder just a few minutes later when he was hand to turn in a free-kick the home side failed to deal with.

And after Wolves were also held to a draw tonight, it meant Blues remain three points off the leaders.

Teams

Barnsley Muller, Van Homoet (El Haimour 83), Moore, Guedes,Kozluk, Campbell-Ryce, Colace, Hassell, Mifsud, Bogdanovic,Macken (Hammill 76).

Subs Not Used: Steele, Devaney, Rigters.

Booked: Hassell.

Goals: Mifsud 82.

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Carr, Martin Taylor, Jaidi, Queudrue,Larsson, Carsley, Johnson (Sinclair 61), Fahey, Jerome,Costly (Bouazza 74).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, O'Connor, De la Cruz.

Booked: Carr, Johnson.

Goals: Martin Taylor 85.

Att: 11,299

Ref: Graham Horwood (Bedfordshire).