Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson made three changes as his side went in search of a sixth win on the trot.
The injured Sean St Ledger, Jamie Vardy, who had been ill, and Liam Moore, who was rested, dropped out from the side that beat Bristol City 2-0 a fortnight ago.
They were replaced by Zak Whitbread, Ritchie De Laet and Martyn Waghorn.
1 min: A quick break from the kick-off by City and David Nugent is fouled. Talk about starting quickly. City were like Usain Bolt coming out of the starting blocks.
5 mins: Massive shout for a penalty as Curtis Davies challenges Lloyd Dyer right in front of the huge travelling support, but the referee says no.
16 mins: Whitbread, up for a free-kick, heads the ball back into the penalty area and Waghorn tests Jack Butland with a volley.
18 mins: The referee gives a free-kick for a perceived foul by Paul Konchesky on the edge of the box but reverses his decision after speaking to his linesman. More controversy.
19 mins: City break and Nugent goes close with a great volley which is inches wide.
20 mins: Dyer has the ball in the net but it is ruled out for off-side. City look dangerous.
24 mins: The first effort on goal by Blues. Steven Caldwell heads straight at Kasper Schmeichel.
25 mins: Another City shout for a penalty when Waghorn's cross is blocked and bounces up and hits James Hurst on the hand.
26 mins: Andy King is inches wide with a fiercely struck effort from 20 yards out after a quick free-kick by City.
28 mins: Jonathan Spector, who has already been shown a yellow card, trips King in the middle of the pitch. Spector is living dangerously.
33 mins: A fantastic move by City involving Anthony Knockaert and Nugent. The Frenchman picks out King's run and he crosses to Waghorn, who should have scored from close range but he skies his effort. A great chance.
36 mins: A great block by David Murphy denies De Laet as City take a firm control of this game. They are playing as though they are the home side.
43 mins: Butland produces a great save to tip Knockaert's shot over the bar after the Frenchman again jinks his way inside the penalty box.
45+1 mins: GOAL 1-0 City are hit with a sucker punch. Dyer loses possession on the edge of the opposition penalty box and Blues break down the right with Marlon King, who crosses for Peter Lovenkrands to score the opening goal.
H-T: Birmingham 1 City 0
49 mins: Knockaert caught in possession by Nathan Redmond who tees up King, but Schmeichel rescues City.
51 mins: Redmond goes close as the Blues start the second half much brighter.
62 mins: Waghorn fizzes in another superb strike from 20 yards out and his England Under-21 team-mate Butland tips it over the bar.
72 mins: City make a double substitution. Ben Marshall and Vardy go on for Dyer and Waghorn.
80 mins: The game starts to dwindle away into a tired, scrappy encounter, which is suiting the hosts much more than the visitors. City need to show more urgency.
84 mins: City still pressing and King fires over from the edge of the area but time is running out.
86 mins: GOAL 1-1 De Laet does brilliantly to keep the ball in play on the touchline and gives it to Marshall, who drives towards the edge of the box and shoots. His shot beats Butland and comes off the inside of the near post and trickles along the line before nestling inside the far post.
90+2 mins: A scare for City as Redmond jinks his way into the box, but his shot is blocked and allows City to break. Only a last-ditch tackle from Davies stops Vardy from breaking clear.
90+4 mins: RED CARD De Laet runs full tilt at the Blues defence and is tripped by Spector, who receives his second yellow and takes the long walk. City have a free-kick 25-yards out to the right of the penalty box.
90+5 mins: Marshall swings in a superb free-kick towards the top corner and Butland somehow touches it over. A fantastic effort and save.
F-T: Birmingham 1 City 1
