Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham 1 Spurs 1: Craig Gardener sews seeds of recovery as Blues come from behind
Craig Gardner dented Tottenham's hopes of cementing a place in the Barclays Premier League top four with alate equaliser for Birmingham at St. Andrew's. [LNB]Spurs had looked the better side in the opening period and deservedly took the lead through Sebastien Bassong's first goal for 16 months. [LNB]But Gardner salvaged a point for the Carling Cup semi-finalists 10 minutes from time with his fifth goal of the campaign. [LNB] [LNB] Deadlock breaker: Sebastien Bassong (centre) was first on the scene to score for Tottenham[LNB] [LNB]The pace of Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale was always a threat to City and Jermain Defoe looked sharp in his first start since September. [LNB]But Birmingham's never-say-die spiritagain surfaced and they posed more of a threat in the second period before Gardner levelled matters. [LNB]The first chance fell to Spurs striker Peter Crouch after Aaron Lennon's cross had set up the opportunity. [LNB]The England striker had time to bringthe ball down and his low volley was turned around the post by Ben Foster. [LNB]Blues retaliated and Lee Bowyer's first-time pass picked out the run of Carr behind the Tottenham defence but the former Spurs player shot high and wide from the edge of the six-yard box. [LNB]Crouch shook off the challenge of twodefenders but failed to make proper contact on his low drive which flewwide. [LNB] Off the ball: Tottenham's Aaron Lennon (left) and Birmingham's Liam Ridgewell in action[LNB] [LNB]Spurs started to take control and Blues defender Scott Dann got in an important tackle on Defoe after he had exchanged passes with Crouch. [LNB]Liam Ridgewell became the first player to be yellow-carded after 18 minutes for bringing down Bale - and, from the resulting free-kick, Spurs went ahead. [LNB]Foster got a touch on an inswinging free-kick from Bale but Bassong was first to react to the loose ball andhammered it home.[LNB] Blues were looking vulnerable every time the visitors ventured forward and another dangerous cross from Lennon picked out the unmarked Bale but he failed to make proper contactwith his volley. [LNB]Gardner produced City's best effort to date after 33 minutes when he burst forward and drilled a low cross-shot just past the post. [LNB]Former Blues midfielder Wilson Palacios was booked for diving by referee Kevin Friend and replays showed an incensed Gardner had made no contact. [LNB]Bowyer carved out a chance after outwitting Palacios but the final shot was well off the mark. Birminghammade a more promising start to the second period but Tottenham had the pace to catch the home side out if they committed players forward and Defoe had a fierce drive deflected just wide. [LNB]City were now delivering some qualitycrosses into the box and, from one of them by Ridgewell, a header from Gardner was saved by Gomes down to his left. [LNB] Hard grafter: Gardner (left) celebrates his equaliser for Birmingham[LNB]Carr produced a good tackle to halt Defoe in the box as he chased down a Crouch through-ball. Defoe had the chance to double Tottenham's lead after turning inside Ridgewell and Johnson but he screwed his low shot wide. [LNB]Gallas blocked a shot from Jerome at the expense of a corner before McLeish brought on Sebastian Larsson for Bowyer. [LNB]Foster beat out a Bale effort from a narrow angle and Defoe scuffed a shot wide. But City started to exert heavy pressure and Gomes made a superb save to deny Ridgewell at close range from Jerome's knockdown. [LNB]They were not to be denied and after 80 minutes Gardner put them on level terms. [LNB]Johnson's deep free-kick was headed back across goal by Zigic and Gardner timed his run perfectly to head past Gomes for his fifth goal of the campaign.[LNB] Hutton appeared to push Carr to the floor in injury-time after being on the end of a late tackle but both players escaped with a ticking-off. [LNB] [LNB] Angry McLeish hits out at Birmingham fans who invaded pitch after Villa win How hot Spurs stay cool: Van der Vaart finds an ice and easy way to recoverBIRMINGHAM CITY FC