Everton's teenage sensation Wayne Rooney was dramatically sent off for a horror tackle on Birmingham defender Steve Vickers in the Barclaycard Premiership clash at St Andrews.

Rooney was given a straight red card by referee David Elleray after 80 minutes after the challenge on Vickers - who was unable to continue as City were forced to end the game with 10 men.

The 17-year-old had only been on the pitch barely quarter of an hour as a substitute for Everton goal-scorer Tomasz Radzinski before he was given his marching orders and now he will face a three-game ban.

It was the other side of football for Rooney, who has received nothing but rave reviews since he shot to prominence with his wonder goal against Arsenal.

That overshadowed all other events but Jovan Kirovski scored his second goal in three games to earn City another vital point in their bid to secure Premiership survival.

The United States international ensured that he and manager Steve Bruce will return to Old Trafford on Saturday in good heart after helping Blues extend a run which has seen them beaten just once in the last seven matches.

Kirovski, who was a youngster with United before moving to Borussia Dortmund and Sporting Lisbon, had scored a spectacular winner against Fulham a fortnight ago.

And he came up trumps again to cancel out Radzinski's effort to take Blues to the 25 points mark - ahead of what Steve Bruce had been looking for at this juncture of the season.

In truth this was a game which had little to recommend it before the Rooney incident which will inevitably dominate the headlines.

The first half only really exploded into life with those two goals in barely a minute shortly before half-time.

Until then there had seen plenty of passion and commitment but precious little quality as both sides struggled to carve out a chance worthy of the name.

Everton striker Kevin Campbell had a half-chance in the first minute when he volleyed over the bar from 12 yards out after reacting first to a left-wing cross from Gary Naysmith.

Blues winger Paul Devlin then seized onto a raking crossfield pass from Michael Johnson, starting his first Premiership game of the season, but he failed to make the most of the situation and Alessandro Pistone was able to break up the attack.

Lee Carsley headed wide from a long Pistone throw before he became the first player to be yellow carded by Elleray for a challenge on Michael Johnson.

It was 41 minutes before either goalkeeper was called into action and then City's Nico Vaesen easily dealt with a low effort from Gravesen.

The home side were forced into a change after 43 minutes when midfielder Damien Johnson limped out of the action to be replaced by Stan Lazaridis.

It was on the stroke of half-time that the game woke up with Everton taking the lead - only for the home side to reply instantly.

Radzinski beat the Blues' offside trap to seize onto a pass from Gravesen before slotting the ball wide of Vaesen.

But the visitors joy was short-lived and almost immediately Steve Bruce's side were back on level terms.

Lazaridis sent over a deep cross from the left flank and the Everton marking was non existent as Kirovski headed powerfully past Richard Wright for his second goal in three matches.

Kirovski was starting to make more of an impression and he held off one early second half challenge from Yobo to find Devlin, who was not far off-target with a 20-yard effort.

David Weir became the second Everton player to be yellow carded after trying to holding back Horsfield in full flight.

There were still precious few chances being created although Vaesen clung onto a curling free-kick from Pembridge.

Bruce then brought off goal hero Kirovski after 60 minutes and introduced record signing Clinton Morrison to the action.

Lazaridis decided to go for glory with a free-kick from 35 yards out but, although his shot contained plenty of power, it was easy meat for Wright.

After 66 minutes Wayne Rooney - and Steve Watson - were introduced by David Moyes with Radzinski and Pembridge making way.

But Rooney had made little impact before the challenge on Vickers which led to him heading for the dressing rooms.

Teams:

Birmingham Vaesen, Kenna, Vickers, Cunningham, Devlin, Savage, Cisse, Damien Johnson (Lazaridis 43), Michael Johnson, Kirovski (Morrison 61), Horsfield (Hughes 76).

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Powell.

Booked: Morrison.

Goals: Kirovski 45.

Everton Wright, Weir, Stubbs, Yobo, Pistone, Pembridge (Rooney 66), Naysmith, Gravesen, Carsley, Campbell, Radzinski (Watson 66).

Subs Not Used: Tie Li, Gemmill, Baardsen.

Sent Off: Rooney (81).

Booked: Carsley.

Goals: Radzinski 45.

Att: 29,505

Ref: D Elleray (Middlesex).