Blues were only able to muster a point at St. Andrew's against fellow relegation strugglers Fulham.

A woeful first half saw the home side trailing to Carlos Bocanegra's goal but an inspired half-time chat by McLeish saw the home side transformed for the second 45 minutes.

Seb Larsson grabbed a fortuitous equaliser before Hameur Bouazza was dismissed after a foul on Franck Queudrue.

Alex McLeish kept faith with the XI that were victorious three days earlier on Boxing Day and pleased to have no injuries to report to that side.

Fulham caretaker boss Ray Lewington made five changes to the side thrashed by Spurs as new manager Roy Hodgson watched from the stands.

Right from the kick off Blues were struggling to cope with the wind and could easily have been a goal down after 15 seconds.

The ball bobbled about on the edge of the box before David Healey hit a curling shot that had Maik Taylor fooled as it whistled past the far post.

Blues should have taken the lead in the fourth minute when a neat flick by Mikael Forssell sent Gary McSheffrey clean through.

Despite been shadowed by Paul Konchesky he managed to create the space to get his shot off but it was a woeful effort which went over the bar.

Disaster struck in the eighth minute when Carlos Bocanegra gave the visitors the lead from Simon Davies' corner. 

Alex McLeish would have been unimpressed with the manner it was conceded, with the unchallenged Bocanegra having the simple task of nodding it past Taylor from close range.

Fulham could easily have doubled their lead a minute later when David Healey got ahead of the defence again but thankfully Maik Taylor was there and scurryied across to stop his shot at the second attempt.

It was end-to-end stuff and Muamba hit a trademark shot that found Franck Queudrue on the left of the box but his attempt sailed high over the bar.

Blues were looking totally disjointed and were a far cry from the solid side that turned up on Boxing Day against Boro.

Fabrice Muamba was once again getting forward and was unlucky when he latched onto Larsson's header forwards but Niemi was there to save well.

Maik Taylor was struggling with another set piece when he came out to challenge Bocanegra and could only get a glancing blow the ball as it somehow bounced away to safety.

Blues went close when Queudrue flicked on Larsson's corner but Jaidi failed to hit the target.

Jaidi was called into action at the other end when he made a diving header to steer Bouazza's cross for a corner.

Davies curled the corner over and the statuesque Blues defence allowed the ball to bounce across the goalmouth before Muamba eventually cleared.

Fulham were looking the team more likely to score but Blues had a chance to draw level when Queudrue's free kick was flicked onto the big man but he failed to keep his header down.

Despite being second best for the majority of the first 45 minutes they finished with two good chances that went begging.

The first sniff of a vital equaliser came in the final minute of the half when Forssell was fouled by Stefanovic 25 yards from goal.

McSheffrey stepped up to hit a curling shot that was a foot over the bar.

Then in the dying moments of the half Forssell created a chance out of nothing when he turned in the box and hit a shot through Bocanegra's legs that had Niemi lunging forward to save.

Half-time: Blues 0 Fulham 1

Alex McLeish made one change for the second half with Mehdi Nafti replacing Damien Johnson who could only be presumed to be injured after taking a blow to the face late in the first half.

Blues started much brighter with Jerome looking dangerous and he forced another corner early on when Omozusi blocked his shot on the edge of the box.

The good work continued when Seb Larsson grabbed the equaliser in the 55th minute thanks to a huge slice of luck.

Muamba picked the Swede out on the left and he appeared to have picked the wrong option when he cut inside but his shot took a kind deflection off Omozusi and completely wrong footing Niemi before nestling in the net.

It was a complete transformation of the first half with flowing football now and at the end of another move Forssell teed Nafti up for a rasping shot that just skimmed the bar from 25 yards.

Just past the hour mark Bouazza was lucky to escape a caution when he felled Kelly who was sprinting down the wing.

The less said about McSheffrey's free kick the better as it sailed high into the Tilton Road.

Two minutes later McSheffrey was tripped in exactly the same spot but this time Konchesky was the guilty party and he was booked.

Mr Clattenburg was promptly yellow carded by McSheffrey after dropping his card.

This time McSheffrey hit a stunning free kick that Niemi punched away from goal.

The ball dropped to former Fulham man Queudrue who hit an amazing volley that somehow Niemi kept out again tipping it over.

Fulham made their first change in the 70th minute replacing Danny Murphy with Alexey Smertin.

Alex McLeish replaced goal scorer Seb Larsson 3 minutes later with Daniel De Ridder.

The substitutions continued with Shefki Kuqi replacing David Healey moments later.

In the 77th minute Garry O'Connor replaced Mikael Forssell.

Fulham were reduced to ten men under some confusion.

Hameur Bouazza was cautioned for an awful challenge on Queudrue and then given a yellow card but not seen to have received a card earlier in the game.

A minute later Simon Davies was booked for a rash challenge on Liam Ridgewell.

This broke Blues' tempo and Blues were somewhat huffing and puffing to get the winner. 

Mehdi Nafti almost gifted Kuqi a winner with a poor back pass that thankfully Stephen Kelly was at hand to clear for a corner.

 This left The Cottagers winless after 27 away trips and Blues looking forward to a trip to The Theatre of Dreams on New Years Day.

Full time: Blues 1 Fulham 1

Blues: Maik Taylor, Stephen Kelly, Franck Queudrue, Liam Ridgewell, Radhi Jaidi, Seb Larsson (73, Daniel De Ridder), Fabrice Muamba, Damien Johnson (45, Mehdi Nafti), Gary McSheffrey, Cameron Jerome, Mikael Forssell (77, Garry O'Connor).
Subs not used: Doyle, Sadler.

Goals: Seb Larsson (55),

Fulham: Antti Niemi, Paul Konchesky, Elliott Omozusi, Carlos Bocanegra, Dejan Stefanovic, Hameur Bouazza, Simon Davies, Danny Murphy (70, Alexey Smertin), Steve Davis, David Healy (74, Shefki Kuqi), Clint Dempsey

Subs not used:  Diomansy Kamara, Adrian Leijer, Tony Warner

Goals: Carlos Bocanegra (8),

Bookings: Paul Konchesky (65)

Sent Off: Hameur Bouazza (79)

Attendance: 28,923