Birmingham moved back into second place in the Championship but could only claim a point from their trip to rock-bottom Charlton.

City were leapfrogged by Sheffield United on Friday night, and although they reclaimed an automatic promotion spot they are now four points behind leaders Wolves - whom they beat 2-0 earlier this week.

Worryingly for the visitors, there was little to distinguish between the side pushing for promotion to the top flight and the team all but doomed to League One.

And it was Charlton who should have taken all three points but Zheng Zhi fluffed a glorious chance to win the game late on.

The fact that the best player on display was a 17-year-old, Charlton's exciting rookie Jonjo Shelvey, summed up a disappointing game.

The midfielder has provided one of very few bright spots in Charlton's desperate season, and the south Londoners will be desperate to hold onto him if they are to bounce back next term.

Birmingham, for their part, started with just Cameron Jerome in attack but in the second half Kevin Phillips, Marcus Bent and James McFadden were all introduced to no avail.

Shelvey blasted a volley over the top and saw a curling effort comfortably held by Maik Taylor in the early stages.

At the other end Rob Elliot kept out a couple of free-kicks from Hameur Bouazza, the former Addicks loanee who was revelling in the role of pantomime villain with his every touch being loudly booed by the home fans.

Shelvey sent a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar, while Blues defender Radhi Jaidi headed Bouazza's corner too high in first-half stoppage time.

The game improved after the break and Charlton winger Lloyd Sam almost caught Taylor out with an angled drive which the keeper palmed onto his own post.

Sam then curled another shot wide before defender Darren Ward had the ball in the Birmingham net, only to be denied by an offside flag.

Shelvey forced another smart save from Taylor with a low drive and Tresor Kandol headed over before the chance of the game fell to Zheng with 15 minutes remaining.

Taylor spilled a cross under pressure from Kandol and the ball fell to the China midfielder right in front of goal, but he scuffed his shot and Stephen Carr was able to block on the line.

In a lively finale, Elliot made two fine saves from Keith Fahey before Taylor superbly clawed away Shelvey's deflected shot.

Teams

Charlton Elliot, Butterfield, Ward, Hudson, Youga,Sam (Ambrose 90), Racon (Dickson 79), Zhi, Bailey, Shelvey,Kandol.

Subs Not Used: Randolph, Holland, Burton.

Booked: Bailey.

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Carr, Jaidi, Ridgewell, Murphy,Larsson (Phillips 49), Bowyer, Johnson, Fahey,Bouazza (McFadden 65), Jerome (Bent 59).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Queudrue.

Booked: Murphy, Jaidi.

Att: 20,022

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).