Substitute Nathan Ellington ended a three-and-a-half month goal drought to earn West Brom a deserved point in the Premiership relegation battle with Birmingham at St Andrews.

Ellington had only been on the field a couple of minutes before netting with a low drive - his seventh goal of the season - to cancel out Mikael Forssell’s penalty.

But the Baggies should have secured victory after Ellington hit the bar when one on one with the keeper while Diomansy Kamara and Kevin Campbell were guilty of glaring first-half misses

Instead Bryan Robson’s men remain three points ahead of third from bottom Birmingham who have a game in hand.

The first opportunity of the game fell to the visitors when Kevin Campbell headed a deep cross from Paul Robinson back across goal.

Steve Watson managed to get in a powerful shot but Blues defender Martin Latka was on hand to block his effort at the expense of a corner.

City retaliated and David Dunn was only inches wide with a low drive after Emile Heskey had shown good control to lay the ball into his path.

Blues appealed in vain for a penalty after a tussle between Curtis Davies and Mikael Forssell. Blues captain Mario Melchiot was instead booked for dissent by referee Phil Dowd.

A decisive pass from Stan Lazaridis found Heskey who created a yard of space with a sharp turn but his low shot bobbled through to Tomas Kuszczak.

After 31 minutes Kamara was guilty of a glaring miss for Albion when it seemed easier to score. The Senegal international started the move by finding Jonathan Greening and then ran forward to meet the return pass after the winger sped past Latka.

Greening’s cross was inch perfect and Kamara looked certain to score when unmarked six yards out but he side-footed the ball wide.

Kevin Campbell missed another golden chance to put the Baggies in front after Kamara had flicked on Ronnie Wallwork’s ball.

He was only seven yards out but clipped his shot against the post with the goal at his mercy and then Martin Taylor cleared the rebound effort from Jan Kozak.

Albion defender Robinson was booked for a challenge on Jermaine Pennant and then was immediately substituted with a knee injury and replaced by Neil Clement.

The homeside opened the second halg brightly and went ahead in the 48th minute after Forssell was brought down by Davies. The Finnish international stepped to send Kuszczak the wrong way for his seventh goal of the season.

Albion responded in a positive manner and Blues keeper Maik Taylor turned over a powerful drive from the edge of the box by Junichi Inamoto after Jan Kozak had laid the ball into his path.

City were forced into a substitution with Jermaine Pennant, who picked up a knock when tackled by Clement, being replaced by Muzzy Izzet.

Albion boss Bryan Robson made a double substitution with Campbell and Inamoto making way for Ellington and Kanu.

The new duo set up the equaliser after 70 minutes. Kanu layed the ball into the path of Ellington who made no mistake with a low left-footed drive from the edge of the box.

Wallwork picked up his 10th booking of the season for a challenge on Dunn and then Baggies assistant boss Nigel Pearson was sent from the dug-out after appearing to exchange words with referee Dowd.

Maik Taylor turned a dipping drive from Ellington over the bar in the closing minutes before the substitute rattled the crossbar in injury time.