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Last Updated: Saturday, 8 November, 2003, 14:24 GMT
Iversen seals Wolves point
Stefan Iversen equalised for Wolves just after half-time
Wolves 1-1 Birmingham

Wolves showed their battling spirit again to fight back from a goal down and earn a point against Birmingham City at Molineux.

Mikael Forssell looked to have set Steve Bruce's side on the way to another away win with his fifth goal in nine games just after half-time.

But Wolves - who came from three goals down to beat Leicester City in their last Premiership home game - struck back through Steffen Iversen to snatch a draw.

Iversen almost sealed another dramatic Wolves win, only to shoot wide from only eight yards in injury time.

Robbie Savage returned to Birmingham's midfield after an Achilles injury, setting up a mouth-watering battle with Wolves captain Paul Ince.

It was the home side who created the better chances in a first half high on endeavour but short on genuine quality.

KEY MOMENTS
48 mins: Mikael Forsell puts Birmingham City ahead
65 mins: Steffen Iversen scrambles home Wolves' equaliser

Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor was called into action to save well from Iversen after 18 minutes.

And Damien Johnson came to the rescue from the resulting corner to head off the line from Jody Craddock.

Taylor won his personal battle with Iversen again three minutes later, saving well when one-on-one with the Norwegian striker.

Birmingham posed threats of their own, and were denied a penalty when Alex Rae clearly upended the dangerous Forsell.

And Wolves goalkeeper Michael Oakes had to be alert to block a powerful drive at his near post from Christophe Dugarry.

Forssell was the most dangerous player on view, and he turned his threat into a goal, putting Birmingham ahead three minutes after the interval.

The Finn created and finished the chance himself, taking advantage of Craddock's slip to beat Oakes.

And he was only narrowly off target almost instantly as Birmingham moved in for the kill.

Wolves desperately needed a response and Iversen provided it with the scrappiest of goals in the 65th minute.

Henri Camara's shot flew across the face of goal after a scramble, and Iversen smuggled the ball over the line via the legs of Johnson on the far post.

Dugarry, who had been rightly booked for diving, was not having the happiest of games and was stretchered off clutching his knee after a tumble with ten minutes left.

Wolves finished the stronger, and Iversen was guilty of a bad miss in the dying seconds with Birmingham hanging on.


Wolves: Oakes, Naylor, Craddock, Butler, Irwin (Clyde 88), Kennedy, Rae, Ince, Camara, Iversen, Miller (Newton 57).
Subs not used: Gudjonsson, Sturridge, Ikeme.

Booked: Irwin, Ince.

Birmingham: Taylor, Clapham, Cunningham, Upson, Johnson, Hughes (John 88), Clemence, Savage, Dunn, Dugarry (Lazaridis 80), Forssell.
Subs not used: Bennett, Cisse, Tebily.

Booked: Dugarry. Attendance: 28,831.

Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).




WATCH AND LISTEN
Wolves manager Dave Jones
"We had them on their back foot"


Birmingham boss Steve Bruce
"It would have been an injustice if we lost in the last 30 seconds"




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