Premier League: Birmingham 1 Man Utd 1

Dimitar Berbatov struck again but his goal was cancelled out by Lee Bowyer as Manchester United had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Birmingham.

The point was all that was required for United to reclaim top spot in the English Premier League from cross-city neighbours Manchester City, but the league leaders will rue one defensive lapse that allowed Bowyer to grab an 89th-minute lifeline for the Blues at St Andrew’s on Tuesday.

Berbatov’s 14th goal of the season early in the second half looked set to fend off a spirited Birmingham side that lacked nothing but a clinical finishing touch until Bowyer reacted quickest to Nikola Zigic’s knock down.

While United’s Bulgarian hit-man enters the new year with his sights firmly set on eclipsing the 25-goal target that manager Sir Alex Ferguson set him, strike partner Wayne Rooney cut a forlorn figure once more as he failed to test his former Old Trafford team-mate Ben Foster with a serious attempt on the Blues goal.

Birmingham’s net did survive a narrow escape after 18 minutes, however, when Ryan Giggs’ delightfully deep cross-cum-shot came back off the inside of the post, with Foster managing to get the faintest of finger-tip touches as the ball arced over his head.

Craig Gardner saw three excellent chances fall at his feet, with Edwin Van Der Sar his equal on each occasion until United demonstrated why are undefeated in the Premier League this season by taking a 58th-minute lead.

Michael Carrick was left to carry the ball to the edge of the Blues box before the simplest of touches inside found the onrushing Berbatov, who wasted little time in beating Foster with a low shot inside the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

The Bulgarian went close to adding to his season’s tally with another low shot that zipped past Foster’s other post 60 seconds later.

Substitute Alexander Hleb saw a fervent penalty appeal fall on deaf ears before Bowyer pounced to claim a rightful point from an entertaining clash.