Liam Ridgewell scored an injury-time equaliser to salvage a point for Birmingham as they drew 1-1 with Tottenham at St Andrew's on Saturday.
Jermain Defoe had looked to have put Spurs on course for a double over Blues and condemn them to a second defeat in four days.
But Ridgewell popped up in the dying seconds to rescue a share of the spoils for the home side.
The visitors were the better side for long periods with David Bentley impressing on the right wing and full-back Gareth Bale getting forward on the opposite flank to good effect.
And the poor finishing of City striker Christian Benitez highlighted why Alex McLeish is in the market for a striker, with Spurs' Roman Pavlyuchenko remaining top of his wish list.
But Birmingham this season have had that never-say-die quality about their performances - and it surfaced again.
Blues leading scorer Lee Bowyer had a good chance to open the scoring after four minutes.
James McFadden linked up well with Benitez before playing the ball into the path of the midfielder 15 yards out.
But Bowyer did not make a full contact with his low drive and Heurelho Gomes was able to save away to his right.
A mistake by Bowyer almost proved costly after his loose pass was seized onto by Bentley.
His shot was blocked by Liam Ridgewell but the rebound fell invitingly to Luka Modric who would have been disappointed to screw his shot past the far post.
McLeish seemed unhappy with the way his side had started judging by the verbal volley he aimed at his players who were guilty of some casual and sloppy play.
But Birmingham squandered another good opening on the counter-attack with Benitez this time guilty of some poor finishing.
Cameron Jerome created the chance and then Benitez found himself with only Gomes to beat after turning inside Michael Dawson.
But he fired a low weak drive straight at the Brazilian keeper when he could have picked his spot.
Bentley continued to pose a threat to the home side and he went past Ridgewell before unleashing a fierce shot from a narrow angle which Hart turned aside for a corner.
Birmingham forced a trio of corners in quick succession and the third of them from McFadden flew right across the six yard box but no-one was able to apply a finishing touch.
Tottenham began the second half on the offensive and Hart went down to his left to smother a shot from Bentley 12 yards out and was able to gather the rebound. Crouch missed Spurs' best chance of the game to date after 52 minutes.
Defoe was released by Wilson Palacios and then slightly miscontrolled the ball, but it fell invitingly to Crouch who stabbed a weak effort wide. Johnson became the first player to be yellow carded after 57 minutes for showing dissent towards a referee's assistant.
Then Palacios was booked for bringing down Bowyer on the edge of the Spurs box The cautions were now coming thick and fast with Bowyer going into the notebook for a lunge at Palacios.
Tottenham's pressure finally paid off after 69 minutes when Bale's centre was flicked on by Crouch - and Defoe did the rest from close range. Birmingham tried to retaliate and Benitez beat the offside trap to find himself clear of the Spurs defence.
But the Ecuador international opted to cut back inside and, by the time he elected to shoot, Spurs had enough players back to block his shot. Defoe was booked for deliberate handball as the home side tried to build up some momentum.
McFadden sliced a shot wide after a deflected drive from Jerome had fallen into his path. Then in injury time Ridgewell equalised for City after Jerome had headed a McFadden centre back across goal.
