Premiership: Everton 0 - 0 Birmingham City

Steve Bruce had not been born and The Crickets were No1 with 'That'll be the Day' the last time Birmingham City won here in the league. Against that backdrop, the Birmingham manager should not be too displeased with a point, though news of Portsmouth's late goal against Sunderland meant that this was not a result to be celebrated. With only two matches of the season remaining, Birmingham are no longer in control of their own destiny and defeat at home to Newcastle next weekend could even bring relegation.

Three points at Goodison Park would have given the league table a very different complexion, but aside from a bright first quarter of an hour the visitors spent much of the match seeking to keep a misfiring Everton attack at bay. Leon Osman, Gary Naysmith and David Weir were all denied as Maik Taylor's fine performance in the Birmingham goal ensured the visitors departed with tangible reward for their belligerent display. The point procured, however, is not enough to prevent Birmingham slipping back into the bottom three.

Despite that failure to register a league victory at Everton since 1957, Birmingham had arrived in buoyant mood. A midweek victory over Blackburn brought renewed hope, while news that Emile Heskey and Jermaine Pennant had both been declared fit to start was further cause for optimism. Bruce was, however, forced to make one change to his starting line-up after Olivier Tebily dropped out due to personal reasons.

The full-back's place went to Mario Melchiot who ought to have marked his return to the side with a goal inside the first five minutes. Pennant's deep corner picked out the Dutchman in space but from no more than eight yards and with the Everton defence seemingly distracted, he got more shoulder than head on the ball and the opportunity passed. Bruce's frustration was manifest as threw his arms in the air on the touchline, although Everton were soon bemoaning their own lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.

In an almost identical move, Joseph Yobo ran unattended to meet James McFadden's corner but somehow failed to make any contact. Everton were still reeling from that disappointment when Birmingham carved a clear opening for Pennant in the 12th minute as the game continued to ebb and flow. This time Melchiot was the architect, swinging over a right-wing cross that Heskey astutely nodded into the path of the Birmingham winger, but Pennant's volley from the edge of the area failed to trouble Richard Wright as it fizzed past the near upright.

Birmingham ought to have taken confidence from the opening period, though the home side began to find their fluency as the interval approached. Phil Neville, a burgeoning presence on the right flank, dragged a left-foot shot narrowly wide after cutting inside and Leon Osman, equally menacing with his meandering runs in front of the Everton full-back, saw a curling 25-yard shot tipped over by Maik Taylor as Everton began to dominate.

The Birmingham goalkeeper made another fine stop in the 37th minute to thwart a diving header from Gary Naysmith. James Beattie was the creator of that chance and he came close to scoring himself moments before the break when Osman found space where there appeared to be none. The diminutive midfielder turned Mat Sadler adroitly before standing up a cross that implored the Everton forward to head home, before Melchiot's challenge hampered his leap.

It was a lively opening period from both teams, although their failure to convert opportunities into goals should have come as no surprise. Only Sunderland have scored fewer in the Premiership than Birmingham this season, while Everton still require a further six goals to prevent finishing the campaign with the lowest total in their 128-year history.

Everton's search for a goal became more desperate, but Beattie thought the breakthrough had arrived 11 minutes after the restart. McFadden foraged forward before teeing up Osman, whose raking shot dropped at the feet of the Everton striker via the right-hand of Taylor. With the Birmingham goalkeeper prone, Beattie gleefully rammed home the rebound only for the linesman to cut short his celebration by ruling out the effort for offside.

Duncan Ferguson was introduced in a late attempt to secure a goal but Weir's low shot that Taylor managed to hold was as near as the home side came to ending the deadlock.

Man of the match: Leon Osman

The one player on the pitch who looked as if he would create something whenever he was in possession. His sinuous runs on the left and neat footwork bamboozled the Birmingham defence, but Everton's forward line was unable to take advantage of his artistry.

The relegation run-in

Saturday 29 April

Birmingham v Newcastle 3pm

Wigan v Portsmouth 3pm

Monday 1 May

West Brom v West Ham 8pm, SS1

Sunday 7 May

Bolton v Birmingham 3pm

Everton v West Brom 3pm

Portsmouth v Liverpool 3pm