Town had fallen behind to a Lukas Jutkiewicz goal before Matty Pearson levelled just before half-time.

There were plenty of opportunities to go on and win the game but the gaffer was upbeat about what he saw from his players.

“The performance level was there and I can’t ask for anyone more from them. As a team I thought we were excellent, moved the ball, we were brave and we showed that we are evolving as a very good footballing side and I’m very proud of that. We should have won the game, we had chances to win the game.

“We needed our keeper to actually reserve the point at the end but that would have been an absolute travesty because I thought we were excellent, I really did.

"It was totally against the run of play, (Birmingham’s goal) absolutely totally against the run of play but sometimes things can happen in the Championship like that.

“We should have cleared the ball and we didn’t, then they crossed the ball in, I have no idea what the hand ball rule is now so I can’t actually say if the ref was right or wrong because I don’t have any idea about the rule.

“We showed great character to get back at them and then we pushed, we created enough. Their keeper had a fine game but he needed to tonight because I thought we were very good.”