West Bromwich Albion 1 Birmingham City 1

Damien Johnson has always been a man of few words — even before West Bromwich Albion defender Paul Robinson broke his jaw.

But the Birmingham City skipper decided the rematch, proving that actions speak louder than words with a stunning goal that you could only really describe as jaw-dropping.

It was only Johnson's third game back in the Blues team following his latest absence from injury in a season already much curtailed by his encounter with Robinson's elbow in October.

But, from nowhere, just when Albion looked set to return to winning ways, his perfectly struck 20-yard left-foot volley won Blues a precious point from this feisty derby and left Albion surely needing now to rely on the play-offs.

After five league games without a win (and just two points out of a possible 15), it was a hammer blow for the Baggies. But, to really rub Albion's and the nearby watching Robinson's noses in it, it was Johnson's first goal in more than three years.

In close to 200 appearances in his five years at Blues, Johnson had only previously scored three goals. This was his first since a 3-0 win over Everton in February 2004.

It was also just about deserved reward for a Blues side reduced to ten men when Julian Gray was sent off for a professional foul on Paul McShane, less than three minutes after the Albion right back had put his team in front.

In a game of much endeavour, many flying tackles but few chances, Blues did have a good claim for a first-half penalty involving the same two players when the lively Gray turned McShane in the box and had his legs taken away from him.

But after losing their previous two away games, it was a point that Blues were happier with than the Baggies.

With Nicklas Bendtner and Rowan Vine reporting fit, there was just one change for Blues from the 1-0 midweek defeat at Carrow Road.

With top scorer Gary McSheffrey having started his three-game suspension, Bruce had noted a lack of balance playing Sebastian Larsson out of position on the left. The more naturally left- footed Gray came in from the cold for his first league start since September.

Mowbray, perhaps understandably after three straight defeats, went for three changes.

One was enforced, emergency loan signing Sam Sodje coming straight in for his debut in place of the luckless Curtis Davies, out for the season with a broken foot sustained in the midweek home defeat by Crystal Palace.

Mowbray also opted to replace Richard Chaplow in midfield with Robert Koren. And, despite scoring on Tuesday night, derby specialist Kevin Phillips lost his place to the greater physical presence of Nathan Ellington, who returned after suspension to act as a lone spearhead.

Davies's absence meant a change of skipper and Mowbray's choice was Robinson, which ensured there would definitely have to be a pre-match handshake with opposing captain Johnson.

The memory of Robinson's role in that ill-tempered St Andrew's contest ensured this one was likely to prove pretty competitive too. And it did not take long for Blues to show they had not forgotten and were fired up when Stephen Clemence set the tone with a full-blooded challenge on Jason Koumas.

That may have explained a subdued Koumas's lack of effect on proceedings as he shuffled back and forth between the role he started in, playing off Ellington, and his more familiar wide left role.

Koumas did have one chance from a free kick after Diomansy Kamara had gone down on the edge of the Blues box, but he curled his effort wide.

Ellington fired a speculative 25-yarder which dipped just over and Kamara cut in from the left only to also aim too high with his shot. But, despite being just shaded by Albion in terms of possession, in a game badly affected by a billowing, bitingly cold wind which left the pitch embarrassingly littered with rubbish, it was Blues who came closest to scoring.

An unmarked Vine should have done better with his far-post volley after Martin Taylor had flicked on Gray's corner.

Then Blues should have had a penalty after Gray turned Paul McShane in the box and was felled. And there was a further moment of alarm for the home side when Bendtner was allowed to gallop clear down the inside left channel, only to find himself crudely upended by Jonathan Greening.

It looked like Blues might be just starting to get on top at the start of the second half when they suddenly found themselves a goal down and a man down inside the space of three minutes.

Koumas woke up long enough to make a run into the box, he squared across and the unmarked McShane slid in. And, when the Albion defender was then sent clear again by Koren, Gray felled him with a blatant professional foul on the edge of the box.

Ellington had a great chance to seal it, only to blaze a free header just wide. But, just four minutes later, Johnson settle the outcome with his moment of glory.

Clemence hooked a cross back in, substitute Cameron Jerome flicked the ball on and Johnson took it on the volley to fire a left-foot screamer past a helpless Dean Kiely.

With Blues old boy Darren Carter ensuring a lively finish, there were still one or two uncomfortable moments to negotiate for the visitors. But Colin Doyle held on to Greening's shot and, when Carter was felled on the edge of the box, the disappointing Ellington curled a free kick over.

 Scorers: McShane (64) 1-0; Johnson (86) 1-1.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-4-1-1): Kiely; McShane, Sodje, Clement, Robinson; Gera (MacDonald, 55), Greening, Koren, Kamara; Koumas (Carter, 84); Ellington. Substitutes: Daniels (gk), Phillips, Hodgkiss.
BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-4-2): Doyle; Kelly, Jaidi, Martin Taylor (Jerome, 75), Sadler; Johnson, Clemence, Muamba (Larsson, 82), Gray; Bendtner, Vine (Campbell, 75). Subs: Maik Taylor (gk), Nafti.
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
Bookings: Albion — Greening, McShane (fouls); Blues — Clemence (foul).
Sending-off: Gray (professional foul).
Attendance: 21,434.

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