Tommy Rowe joined Bristol City from Doncaster earlier in the summer
Tommy Rowe scored on his debut to earn a new-look Bristol City a point against Birmingham City at St Andrew's.
Rowe, one of four Robins players to make their bow, slotted the equaliser into the far corner after Lukas Jutkiewicz gave Blues the lead just after the hour.
The hosts had been quick to test Daniel Bentley, with newcomer Fran Villalba out to make an immediate impression, forcing the Robins goalkeeper into a save with a well-hit shot from distance.
Gary Gardner also went close twice for Birmingham before the break, while Benik Afobe had the Robins' best chance of the half, a curling effort pushed away by Lee Camp.
Jutkiewicz had a thunderous shot foiled by Bentley just minutes before nodding home, while Afobe was denied at the other end only for Rowe to eventually level late on.
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson rushed to make major changes after their 3-1 opening-day defeat by Leeds United, with Afobe, Adam Nagy and Pedro Pereira - a trio recruited since that defeat - and the versatile Rowe all making their first appearances.
It was also confirmed before kick-off that the Robins had adjust to losing defender Jay Dasilva with a fractured tibia - a leg injury the club say will keep the left-back out for at least five weeks.
Villalba, a highly-rated midfielder brought to St Andrew's from Valencia four days earlier, looked bright early on his debut with the game's first effort.
Then either side of Afobe's curling shot that tested Camp, Gardner twice threatened - first with a header that bounced over the bar before sending a shot wide after linking up well with Dan Crowley and Maxime Colin.
Jutkiewicz was Blues' chief menace in the second half, first calling Bentley into action with a shot from the edge of the area before beating the keeper with a header.
At the other end Camp kept Afobe at bay, but could do nothing as Rowe found the bottom corner after racing onto a fine Kasey Palmer pass.
Birmingham caretaker head coach Pep Clotet said:
"Fran Villalba was very good because he understood very well what we were asking of him. It was tough for him being at home in front of our fans, I think you can always be a little bit nervous but he took the game forward.
"There were a lot of positives today and I think we played a very serious game against one of the most difficult teams we played against last season.
"We played front foot and played a little bit of the football we would like to play, it is very encouraging for the players, they really broke the mould in their bravery today."
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"The quality of our chances was very, very good and better than theirs and on another day we could have scored two or three.
"After being a goal down undeservedly it's a good point to take and it gives us something to build on with some strong performances from new players.
"For their goal, we started defending the move poorly and then when the ball hangs up at the far post almost every defender in the division is going in the back of the net with it."
