Newcastle and Birmingham play out four-goal thriller

4:32pm Saturday 6th January 2007

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BIRMINGHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 2

DESPITE the absence of 13 first-team players, Newcastle's name will be in the hat for Monday's FA Cup fourth-round draw after an entertaining 2-2 draw with ten-man Birmingham.

Facing the current Championship leaders, the Magpies avoided a potential cup shock with a performance of considerable commitment, but were unable to make their numerical advantage tell as they conceded an 87th-minute equaliser.

They could hardly have made a worse start, conceding a goal in the 15th-minute when DJ Campbell was given time and space to turn in Matthew Upson's header.

But the visitors were back on level terms five minutes before the break when Steven Taylor's front-post run enabled him to prod home James Milner's corner.

Birmingham were reduced to ten men in the 42nd minute when Raidi Jaidi hauled down Obafemi Martins after the Nigeria international had galloped onto Nolberto Solano's through ball.

And Newcastle made their one-man advantage count nine minutes after the re-start.

Upson failed to cut out Martins' pass forward, and Kieron Dyer drilled a powerful finish past an exposed Maik Taylor.

But after controlling the majority of the second half, Newcastle switched off with three minutes left.

Substitute Neil Danns flicked on Damien Johnson's left-wing cross, and Sebastian Larsson hooked a ferocious finish past Shay Given to earn the Blues a replay.