Depleted Cottagers hold on for draw

Birmingham 0 Fulham 0

Nine-man Fulham ended a run of four successive Barclaycard Premiership defeats after Edwin van der Sar saved a penalty from Birmingham striker Stern John at St Andrews.

Jean Tigana’s side were reduced to 10 men after 35 minutes when Rufus Brevett was red-carded for handling a Darren Purse header on the goalline.

That led to Blues being awarded the spot-kick which van der Sar clung onto from John. Then with 11 minutes left Steve Marlet kicked out in retaliation after being fouled by Robbie Savage and was also dismissed by referee Matt Messias, but Steve Bruce’s side could not capitalise.

Blues will feel that this was two points thrown away given the penalty opportunity and having the numerical advantage.

Savage was inspirational in midfield and again showed that he should be viewed as more than just a workhorse. He was instrumental in setting up many of the home attacks.

The only downside was that the booking he picked up in the incident which saw Marlet sent off means he will now have to incur a one-game suspension for collecting five cautions.

Geoff Horsfield also posed plenty of problems with his power and aggression against his former club but City were unable to display the killer touch – and when they did break through van der Sar and his gutsy defenders, including the rock-like Andy Melville, were equal to the task.

Blues made a bright start and van der Sar was kept busy in the opening 15 minutes.

The Dutchman tipped over a curling free-kick from Stan Lazaridis – although the whistle had gone for offside – and then did well to parry a low left-footed effort from Horsfield around the post.

Purse did have the ball in the Fulham net following a pass from Savage but Horsfield had strayed offside.

Fulham weathered the initial storm and City goalkeeper Nico Vaesen blocked an effort from the recalled Steed Malbranque.

The home side gave away a succession of free-kicks and Paul Devlin became the first player to be yellow-carded for a touchline challenge on Brevett.

An overhit back pass from Devlin almost played Vaesen into trouble and he was relieved to see his clearance ricochet off Marlet at the expense of a corner.

Steve Finnan became the first Fulham player to be booked for appearing to dive on the edge of the Blues penalty area and then in the 35th minute Fulham found themselves reduced to 10 men.

Purse got plenty of power onto his glancing header from a Lazaridis corner and it seemed destined for the corner of the net until Brevett handled and was instantly given his marching orders.

Up stepped John to take the spot-kick but it was an effort lacking belief and conviction and van der Sar was able to save away to his left although he would have been relieved to see Horsfield put the rebound wide.

Tigana reorganised by switching striker Luis Boa Morte to left-back and employing Marlet as the only out-and-out striker but his side coped relatively comfortably for the remainder of the half.

Birmingham began the second half as they had the first with plenty of drive and momentum as they looked to make their numerical advantage count.

Savage was instrumental in setting up many of their attacks and van der Sar produced a splendid save to keep his side on level terms after 59 minutes.

The Wales international took a quick free-kick to Lazaridis and his inswinging cross found the onrushing Purse whose point-blank range header was turned aside by van der Sar.

Savage then needed lengthy treatment after colliding heavily with the Fulham goalkeeper as he attacked a left-wing cross from Lazaridis before being able to resume.

Then came the incident which saw Marlet sent off after the initial challenge on him by Savage.

Olivier Tebily flashed a long-range effort just wide and substitute Clinton Morrison had an injury-time effort ruled out for offside but Fulham managed to hold on for a share of the spoils.