Hull City's quest for their first win in thirteen games proved fruitless against a stubborn Birmingham City side in a game that was breathless from start to finish.

After Josh Magennis and James Scott had put the Tigers two goals to the good, Gary Gardner and Daniel Crowley scored for the hosts to make it all square. Herbie Kane's excellent free kick put the visitors in front again, only for Gardener to grab his brace and see the points shared.

  • Story of the Match

After such a disappointing performance last week against Charlton Athletic, Hull started on the front foot and went ahead on two minutes. A free kick was rolled by Scott to Callum Elder, and his cross was headed home by Magennis. The Northern Ireland striker made no mistake and justified his manager's decision to start him over fellow striker Tom Eaves.

Indeed, the changes Grant McCann made paid dividends fifteen minutes later. A counter attack - very much a feature of Hull's play - undid the Birmingham defence, and Leo Da Silva crossed for Scott to score his first goal in Hull colours.

Birmingham looked poor throughout the first half, with no real chances created for all their possession. However, the introduction of Jeremie Bela by Pep Clotet at half time proved a masterstroke. He looked dangerous on the left of midfield, and within two minutes the Blues had halved the arrears. The midfielder struck a shot from the outside of the area into the bottom corner after good work from Crowley.

On the hour mark, Bela got his first assist of the afternoon. He crossed for Crowley to head home and after holding a comfortable position, Hull found themselves pegged back. 

After being under the cosh for most of the second half, Hull went back in front shortly after. Kane stepped up and took the free kick, hitting it low into the bottom corner and gave Hull hope of a first win in thirteen games. However, it was not to be. Bela - a constant thorn in Hull's side - put another cross in, and Gardner grabbed his brace to see the points shared between both sides.

  • Takeaways from the match

Clotet's changes prove the difference

After such a lack-lusture first half from the Blues, the manager's change at half time was the turning point in the game. Running with the ball, and putting dangerous crosses in, he caused all sorts of problems and was a catalyst for the Blues rescuing the game. 

"We were dead and buried in the first half, said Clotet after the game. We were in the ITU and we were gone. But that's the beauty of this game - we recognised what was wrong and we knew what we needed to do to come back and try to win the game.

"They understood that perfectly and put their hearts into it. It just shows the huge pride that the team has and the determination to fight to the end."

McCann left frustrated at St Andrews

At half time McCann will have been beaming with his team's performance, but at full time he will have been wringing his hands in frustration. After looking so solid at the back in the first period, Birmingham dominated possession in the second and it is now thirteen games without a win for the East Yorkshire side.

“It’s a lost opportunity,” said McCann. “From being 2-0 up to come away with a 3-3 draw. For how good we were first half, we were the polar opposite in the second.

“I thought we could’ve been more than 2-0 up in the first half. We had some really good chances. Mallik (Wilks) had a couple where he didn’t get his shot off.

“I just felt the early goal in the second half put them in the ascendancy a little bit, they got their tails up.

"We conceded off a shot on the edge of the box, which is disappointing, and then the other two we conceded are just criminal. People making a free run into the box and not being tracked".

  • Up next for both

Birmingham face their second home game in four days on Wednesday when they host Huddersfield Town at St Andrew’s. After two draws in their opening two fixtures, they will be desperate to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack below.

Hull don’t play until Thursday, but face fellow strugglers Middlesbrough at the KCOM stadium. Middlesbrough beat Stoke City which puts them two points and two places ahead of the Tigers.

Birmingham City: Lee Camp; Maxime Colin, Harlee Dean, Jake Clarke-Salter (Nico Gordon 75), Kristian Pedersen; Dan Crowley, Mikel Kieftenbeld (Jeramie Bela 46) Craig Gardner, Jude Bellingham; Scott Hogan, Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Subs: Connal Trueman, Wes Harding, Caolan Boyd Munce, Ryan Burke, Ryan Stirk, Jack Concannon, Jayden Reid.

Hull City: George Long; Matthew Pennington, Reece Burke, Jordy de Wijs, Callum Elder; Dan Batty, Leo Da Silva Lopes (George Honeyman 68); James Scott (Josh Bowler 64), Herbie Kane (Kevin Stewart 75), Mallik Wilks (Keane Lewis-Potter 65); Josh Magennis (Tom Eaves 64).

Subs: Matt Ingram, Ryan Tafazolli, Jon Toral, Angus MacDonald.