Emanuel Villa scored his first goal for Paul Jewell's Derby to rescue a point and plunge Birmingham deep into Barclays Premier League relegation trouble.

The Argentinian striker, signed from Mexican side UAG Tecos last month, headed home a cross from Dean Leacock with only a minute remaining.

That cancelled out a 69th-minute effort from midfielder Sebastian Larsson and Blues were left to rue missing a host of opportunities.

Olivier Kapo, James McFadden and Fabrice Muamba all squandered gilt-edged chances.

Kapo, aside from his miss, was the inspiration for Birmingham.

The former Juventus player demonstrated just why Alex McLeish had been desperate to hang onto him during the January transfer window when there was speculation linking him with a move away from the midlands club.

Kapo's skill and trickery continually tormented the Rams down the left flank while Larsson, who eventually limped out of the action, was also a threat on the opposite flank.

Derby boss Jewell is still searching for his first league win since replacing Billy Davies but would have taken heart from the commitment and passion on display.

Much of the pre-match publicity surrounded Derby midfielder Robbie Savage's return to Blues but for long spells he was a peripheral figure despite showing typical energy.

But he walked off St Andrews with a smile all over his face after Villa's late intervention.

Blues began brightly and Hossam Ghaly produced an excellent tackle to deny midfielder Muamba as he lined up a shot inside the Derby penalty area.

Kapo would then have been disappointed not to at least hit the target when presented with a free header from Larsson's right-wing cross which he sent over the bar.

Kapo was a lively customer and he skipped past two challenges before having a left-footed drive saved by Derby debutant Roy Carroll.

Leacock brought McFadden down in a dangerous position 25 yards out and Carroll did well to turn Larsson's dipping drive around the post.

The home side were on top and McFadden sent a header over the bar from close range following a cross from Garry O'Connor.

McFadden shot over the bar after the ball had come too quickly to him from Larsson as the home side continued to look the more threatening.

Carroll blocked a point-blank header from O'Connor from a McFadden cross and, when the Scotland striker turned the ball home after Larsson had put it back into the danger area, he was adjudged offside.

Blues were becoming frustrated at being unable to break the deadlock and Larsson was booked for dissent.

Laurent Robert also went into the referee's notebook for a challenge on Stephen Kelly.

City defender Liam Ridgewell had a goal-bound header blocked from a Larsson corner as Birmingham continued to press for the breakthrough.

Blues had a let-off in the 53rd minute when Kenny Miller's shot beat the dive of Maik Taylor and struck the post.

Rob Earnshaw followed up to also hit the woodwork but this effort would have been ruled out for offside had it gone in.

Marc Edworthy was booked for time-wasting at a throw-in and Leacock was yellow-carded for a cynical challenge on Damien Johnson.

Blues responded and Muamba completely miskicked when unmarked inside the Derby box attempting to turn home an O'Connor centre.

Jewell made a double substitution, bringing on Giles Barnes and Villa for Robert and Earnshaw respectively.

Carroll clung onto a McFadden header from Muamba's chipped ball as Blues continued to strive for the opener.

McFadden blazed over the bar from close range but his poor first touch made the chance more difficult from Kapo's centre and Carroll was able to rush out and force him to rush his attempt.

Then after 69 minutes Larsson finally broke the deadlock. Murphy pumped a cross to the far post, Larsson outjumped Edworthy and was first to react in driving a low shot past Carroll into the roof of the net.

But with a minute remaining Villa's glancing header from Leacock's centre earned the Rams a share of the spoils.

Teams:

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Kelly, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Murphy, Larsson (Zarate 76), Johnson, Muamba, Kapo, O'Connor, McFadden.

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Forssell, Jerome, Parnaby.

Booked: Larsson.

Goals: Larsson 68.

Derby Carroll, Leacock, Moore (Todd 67), Stubbs, Edworthy, Fagan, Ghaly, Savage, Robert (Barnes 60), Earnshaw (Villa 61), Miller.

Subs Not Used: Price, Teale.

Booked: Robert, Edworthy, Leacock, Miller, Savage.

Goals: Villa 89.

Att: 25,924

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).