Cameron Archer's controversial second-half equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw for Southampton at Birmingham City, on a fiery night at St Andrew's that ended with Blues head coach Chris Davies sent off and both ambitious but out-of-form sides extending their winless runs.
Phil Neumann's looping header early in the second half looked to have earned Birmingham a first victory since 1 December, reward for a performance in which they repeatedly exposed Southampton's porous back line and struck the woodwork twice. But Archer, scoring only his third goal of the season and his first since August, flicked in from fellow substitute Elias Jelert's cross with 19 minutes remaining, moments after a controversial collision between referee Matthew Donohue and Blues captain Tomoki Iwata that left the home side incandescent.
Birmingham on Top After Surviving Early Saints Warning
Both managers had spoken about the importance of a response to recent poor form, and it was Southampton who carved out the first clear opening. A makeshift Birmingham back line, reshuffled because of suspensions and injuries, was almost breached inside the opening exchanges when Finn Azaz tested James Beadle, the home goalkeeper reacting sharply to push away the midfielder's effort.