Birmingham City player ratings vs Stoke: Woods and Gardner help Blues to a battling point

Jordan James' first goal of his senior career set Birmingham City on their way to a battling point and a 2-2 draw at Stoke City.

The 17-year-old gave Blues an early lead and although they couldn't hang on they did produce a gutsy display to continue their recent improvement.

Gary Gardner got his fifth of the season - his highest ever return from a single season - while Tyrese Campbell bagged a brace for the hosts who came from 1-0 down to lead 2-1.

An injury to Teden Mengi meant Lee Bowyer didn’t have any fit senior centre backs - and at times it showed as Maxime Colin and Kristian Pedersen lost their bearings.

However, that didn’t stop Blues making a really positive start, with Lyle Taylor breaking on the right in the third minute.

His first touch kept him at a narrow angle and he clattered a low shot off the base of the post.

Shortly after the Nottingham Forest striker fired from long range, nearly wrong-footing Joe Bursik and forcing a sprawling save.

And the goal the visitors deserved came just before the quarter hour when Ben Wilmot miscontrolled and Onel Hernandez raced away, weaved into the area and pulled back for James’ sidefoot finish.

The lead lasted a dozen minutes before Blues were undone with a sucker punch, a long straight lump forward down the middle from Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Campbell had the freedom of the area to glance the ball past Neil Etheridge.

That sparked Stoke and Colin was needed to block Jacob Brown’s shot and Jeremie Bela was on hand to turn Sam Clucas’ cross over his own bar.

Josh Tymon then thumped a 30-yard shot off that bar just before half time and Blues were grateful to get into the break with the scores level.

The inevitable second goal arrived just after half time when Campbell