Substitute Nathan Ellington ended a three-and-a-half month goal drought to earn West Brom a deserved point in the Premiership relegation battle with Birmingham at St Andrews.

Ellington had only been on the field a couple of minutes before netting with a low drive - his seventh goal of the season - to cancel out Mikael Forssell's penalty.

But the Baggies should have secured victory after Ellington hit the bar when one on one with the keeper while Diomansy Kamara and Kevin Campbell were guilty of glaring first-half misses

Instead Bryan Robson's men remain three points ahead of third-bottom Birmingham who have a game in hand.

The first opportunity of the game fell to the visitors when Campbell headed a deep cross from Paul Robinson back across goal.

Steve Watson managed to get in a powerful shot but Blues defender Martin Latka was on hand to block his effort at the expense of a corner.

City retaliated and David Dunn was only inches wide wide with a low drive after Emile Heskey had shown good control before laying the ball back into his path.

Heskey was looking sharp but Albion managed to block his shot on the turn which dribbled harmlessly through to Tomasz Kuszczak.

Blues appealed in vain for a penalty after a tussle between Davies and Forssell which led to Blues captain Mario Melchiot being booked for dissent by referee Phil Dowd.

A decisive pass from Lazaridis found Heskey who created a yard of space with a sharp turn but his low shot bobbled through to Kuszczak.

But after 31 minutes Kamara was guilty of a glaring miss for Albion when it seemed easier to score.

The Senegal international started the move by finding Jonathan Greening and then ran forward to meet the return pass after the winger sped past Latka.

Greening's cross was inch perfect and Kamara looked certain to score when unmarked six yards out but he side-footed the ball wide.

Campbell missed another golden chance to put the Baggies in front after Kamara had flicked on Ronnie Wallwork's ball.

He was only seven yards out but clipped his shot against the post with the goal at his mercy and then Martin Taylor cleared the rebound effort from Jan Kozak.

Albion defender Robinson was booked for a challenge on Jermaine Pennant and then was immediately substituted with a knee injury and replaced by Neil Clement.

Blues went ahead through Forssell in the 48th minute after the Finnish international was adjudged to have been brought down by West Brom defender Curtis Davies and Dowd instantly pointed to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Forssell to send Kuszczak the wrong way for his seventh goal of the season to spark off wild celebrations amongst the home fans in the 28,041 crowd.

Albion responded in a positive manner and Blues keeper Maik Taylor turned over a powerful drive from the edge of the box by Junichi Inamoto after Jan Kozak had laid the ball back into his path.

City were forced into a substitution with Pennant, who had kicked up a knock in a challenge by Clement at the end of the first period, being replaced by Muzzy Izzet.

Albion boss Bryan Robson made a double substitution with Campbell and Inamoto making way for Ellington and Kanu.

And it was the new duo who set up the equaliser after 70 minutes, Kanu laying the ball back into the path of Ellington who made no mistake with a low left-footed drive from the edge of the box.

Wallwork picked up his 10th booking of the season for a challenge on Dunn and then Baggies assistant boss Nigel Pearson was sent from the dug-out after appearing to exchange words with referee Dowd.

Maik Taylor turned a dipping drive from Ellington over the bar in the closing minutes before the same player rattled the crossbar in injury time.

Teams

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Martin Taylor, Latka,Lazaridis, Pennant (Izzet 56), Johnson, Butt,Dunn (Kilkenny 80), Forssell (Campbell 77), Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Bruce.

Booked: Melchiot, Butt.

Goals: Forssell 49 pen.

West Brom Kuszczak, Watson, Curtis Davies, Albrechtsen,Robinson (Clement 42), Kamara, Wallwork, Kozak,Inamoto (Kanu 68), Greening, Campbell (Ellington 68).

Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Carter.

Booked: Robinson, Clement, Wallwork.

Goals: Ellington 70.

Att: 28,041

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).