Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League table despite Lee Bowyer's last-minute equalizer for Birmingham City.
United usurped Manchester City but could not end Birmingham's 18-month run without a home defeat to top-six opposition.
Blues manager Alex McLeish battened the hatches for the visit of their glamorous opponents. Cameron Jerome was utilized as the lone front man, with Nikola Zigic sacrificed for Jean Beausejour who helped form a compact midfield-five.
For United, there was one change from the side that dispatched Sunderland 2-0 on Boxing Day. Darron Gibson was handed his first Premier League start of the season in place of Ji-Sung Park, who had traveled to Qatar to represent South Korea in the Asian Cup.
In a foggy St Andrew's, the opening minutes saw the two teams trade possession without any real openings. Wayne Rooney's desperation to end his nine-month top flight spell without a goal in open play saw him shoot wide of ex-United colleague Ben Foster's post on seven minutes, then curled a tame effort into his hands four minutes later before he blasted over on 16 minutes.
While Rooney can't buy a strike at present despite the riches from his new contract, Ryan Giggs nearly netted one of the flukiest efforts of his career. The Welshman over-hit a cross that was tapped onto the bar in acrobatic fashion by Foster in the 18th minute.
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