Birmingham's hopes of automatic promotion suffered a blow as they were held to a draw in their Coca-Cola Championship clash with Burnley at St Andrews.

Veteran striker Kevin Phillips cancelled out Martin Paterson's early strike in a first-half dominated by the visitors but although Blues improved after the break they were unable to find a winner.

Paterson was on hand to tap in from close range in just the third minute after Robbie Blake's cross-shot had fizzed across the face of the Birmingham goal.

Burnley had several chances to extend their lead, but the hosts grabbed an equaliser eight minutes before the break when Phillips slotted the ball past Brian Jensen from 12 yards.

Birmingham picked up the pace after the interval and Sebastian Larsson almost put them in front with a delightful free-kick from 25 yards.

However, the play-off chasing Clarets defended resolutely to claim a deserved share of the spoils and could have snatched a winner late on through Steven Thompson's header.

Larsson started at right-back for Birmingham in place of the injured Stuart Parnaby, while Honduran forward Carlos Costly was included among Alex McLeish's substitutes after receiving his international clearance.

On-loan Middlesbrough youngster Rhys Williams returned to the Burnley side after missing the 3-1 FA Cup victory over West Brom, with Kevin McDonald dropping to the bench as a result.

The visitors started impressively and after Paterson's 11th league goal of the season had put them in front, Thompson volleyed over the bar from the edge of the area.

Blake then scuffed a shot wide following good work from Paterson, while at the other end Cameron Jerome also missed the target with a left-footed effort from 20 yards.

Burnley came close to doubling their lead after 20 minutes but Maik Taylor reacted well to keep out Thompson's strike with his feet.

Chris McCann and Blake both saw shots fly wide of Taylor's right-hand post as Burnley continued to dominate, while Williams tested the Blues goalkeeper with a 25-yard strike.

However, Phillips equalised for Birmingham against the run of play and Jerome almost put the hosts ahead when he shot narrowly wide on the stroke of half-time.

Williams blazed a long-range shot over the bar in the opening minutes of the second period, before Lee Bowyer went close for Blues with a drilled effort from 25 yards.

Fellow January signing Scott Sinclair then failed to test Jensen from distance, but the Burnley goalkeeper was forced into action a minute later as he tipped Larsson's curling free-kick around the post.

Jensen was required again shortly before the hour mark to make a routine save from Lee Carsley, while the lively Blake should have done better for Burnley when firing straight at Taylor from 12 yards.

McLeish introduced Costly for his debut in the 63rd minute, with Hameur Bouazza making way, but the Blues were still unable to find a breakthrough.

Jerome headed over the bar from Sinclair's corner after 68 minutes, but from then on chances were at a premium as the visitors defended solidly.

Owen Coyle's men had a chance to grab three points with seven minutes remaining, but Thompson was unable to beat Taylor with his close-range header.

Teams:

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Larsson, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Murphy, Bouazza (Costly 63), Carsley, Bowyer, Sinclair, Phillips, Jerome (Fahey 74).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Queudrue, Johnson.

Booked: Bowyer, Ridgewell.

Goals: Phillips 37.

Burnley Jensen, Williams, Duff, Caldwell, Kalvenes, Elliott, McCann, Alexander, Blake (Eagles 77), Paterson (Rodriguez 84), Thompson (McDonald 90).

Subs Not Used: Penny, Gudjonsson.

Booked: Thompson, Kalvenes.

Goals: Paterson 3.

Att: 16,763

Ref: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).