August Priske earned Birmingham a 1-1 draw against Southampton in a breathless Sky Bet Championship encounter.
The Danish striker's neat header in the 55th minute cancelled out new signing Keven Schlotterbeck's towering aerial effort in the third minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
Birmingham should have had more for their efforts having had the lion's share of a glut of chances, with Jay Stansfield missing two sitters, including hitting the post.
In an end-to-end start, there were openings for both teams.
Saints striker Cyle Larin was put through by Finn Azaz only to finish poorly with a low drive straight at James Beadle.
Blues, who signed Hull winger Liam Millar on a season-long loan on deadline day, forced Daniel Peretz into a falling save from Priske's low drive.
Beadle's clearance was charged down by Azaz only for the ball to trickle wide as the visitors threatened.
Stansfield rattled the inside of the post after racing 40 yards following Schlotterbeck's mis-hit backpass.
Then, unmarked, the £10m striker headed inches wide from Alex Cochrane's cross.
Blues threatened again when Jhon Solis advanced only to fire just wide from 20 yards.
Larin lashed over the bar after Azaz's pass split the defence as the chances kept coming.
Cochrane's deep free kick gave Tomoki Iwata a sniff of goal at the far post but he sliced wide unmarked.
Priske's twisting header dropped just wide from Patrick Roberts' cross in another Blues raid.
But centre back Schlotterbeck made Blues pay for those missed opportunities by heading powerfully home from Leo Scienza's corner for his first goal since January 2025.
Roberts wriggled his way through for what home fans thought was the equaliser on 49 minutes only for Peretz to smother his shot.
But they did not have to wait much longer as Roberts crossed for Priske to guide home a header. It was the Danish striker's first league goal of the season.
Saints missed a double chance to regain the lead when substitute James Ward-Prowse's deflected shot was palmed upwards by Beadle and Larin looped the rebound wide.
Blues breathed a sigh of relief as Kuryu Matsuki's volley was ruled offside before Priske's rising shot flew just over.
Beadle palmed away Ward-Prowse's 25-yard free kick, James Bree firing the rebound into the sidenetting.
Phil Neumann headed straight at Peretz from Demarai Gray's free kick as Blues pressed for the winner.
Birmingham's Chris Davies:
"It was a very good game. We had an electric start - I was really pleased with how we got after them.
"Our tails were really up which is exactly what we want to be here, St. Andrew's was rocking.
"So to go in at half-time a goal down was a real sucker punch as they had had little periods of control with the ball without hurting us too much.
"We deserved to get the goal and could have won the match. August worked his socks off and was a real handful so it was great for him to score."
Southampton's Tonda Eckert:
"It was a good advertisement for the Championship - a good game of football.
"There were a couple of moments that went in our direction to win it, but overall a very good quality Championship game.
"It was quite an even game - there were a couple of chances for us and the same for Birmingham.
"Fair play to Keven - it was a great header and a great delivery from Leo Scienza.
"It was a proper header, there is so much conviction in everything he does.
"I take that (error) on me because we try to play football and sometimes that can happen if the ball goes back and you try to find a solution.
"That one slipped through but I will take the blame for that.
"It was an excellent decision from Daniel Peretz not to come rushing out - it allowed the striker more time to think and delay the shot.
"It shows the courage and bravery in which he (Schlotterbeck) continued to play the game, especially in an atmosphere like this, so all credit to him."
