Birmingham 2-2 Everton

Life-long fan Craig Gardner scored his first Birmingham goal as Alex McLeish's side recovered to earn a point against Everton and preserve their six month unbeaten home record.

Everton, knocked out of the FA Cup by Blues at Goodison Park this season, had taken control with two goals in three minutes midway through the first half from Victor Anichebe and Ayegbeni Yakubu.

But Cameron Jerome's third goal in the last two games gave City a lifeline before Gardner's moment of glory following his £3million January move from local rivals Aston Villa.

Skipper Stephen Carr and midfielder Lee Bowyer returned to the Birmingham side for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Everton.

Carr had been rested for the midweek win at Portsmouth while Bowyer was been sidelined through illness, but the pair were recalled in place of Stuart Parnaby (ankle) and Michel respectively.

Everton boss David Moyes made one change from the starting XI which had demolished Hull 5-1 last weekend.

Tim Cahill recovered from a calf problem and came into the side in place of Leon Osman who was ruled out with a groin injury.

In a reshuffled line-up John Heitinga switched into midfield, Phil Neville moved to right-back and Victor Anichebe wide right.

Both sides went into the game looking for the victory to keep alive their hopes of securing Europa League football.

Ayegbeni Yakubu was off target with a header from an early Leighton Baines corner and, although Sylvain Distin was able to turn the loose ball back across goal, Roger Johnson was on hand to clear.

Birmingham retaliated and a sequence of neat one-touch passing ended with Craig Gardner's floated ball just failing to pick out the run of Carr into the Everton box.

Everton enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the early stages and Bowyer gave away a free-kick 35 yards out when bringing down Steven Pienaar but Baines' centre was cleared by Carr.

Bowyer and Pienaar were spoken to by referee Lee Probert after squaring up to each other in the Everton box.

Both sides gave away a series of niggly free-kicks in the opening quarter of an hour and there was little cohesive play although Everton seemed quicker to the second ball.

But after 16 minutes Blues keeper Joe Hart produced a superb save to keep his side on level terms.

Baines found Pienaar in space and his curling effort was destined for the corner of the net until Hart finger-tipped his drive around the post.

Hart then clung onto a Cahill header from a Mikel Arteta centre before Anichebe put Everton ahead after 18 minutes.

Phil Neville played the ball into the feet of Anichebe who turned past Liam Ridgewell before beating Hart with a powerful 15-yard drive.

Everton appealed in vain for a penalty for handball against Johnson following a fiercely-struck shot from Pienaar.

There was then another shout for handball in the box from the visitors' fans against Craig Gardner but this was also rejected by referee Probert.

Hart got his body right behind a long-range attempt from Phil Jagielka.

But after 52 minutes Gardner brought Blues back on level terms with his first goal since his £3million January move from Aston Villa.

Jerome won the challenge in the air and in an instant Gardner ran onto the ball and drilled a low left-footed drive past Howard into the corner of the net.

It was a sweet moment for Gardner who is a lifelong Blues fan despite his lengthy spell across the city at Villa. But after 59 minutes he was substituted and replaced by Sebastian Larsson.

Ridgewell was getting forward to good effect but had a shot blocked after dispossessing Anichebe.

Yakubu was booked after blocking a Bowyer free-kick when not retreating 10 yards.

Everton boss David Moyes made his first change when bringing on Landon Donovan for Yakubu after 67 minutes.

Benitez was replaced by former Everton striker James McFadden after 73 minutes.

Cahill created space for himself but fired his left-footed attempt straight at Hart before he made way for Jack Rodwell.

Anichebe looked in a lot of pain when suffering a knee injury after a challenge with Johnson.

He was immediately substituted with Dan Gosling coming on for the striker.