Sturridge: Saved Blues' blushes

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Chelsea 1-1 Birmingham

Chelsea failed to overcome Birmingham in their FA Cup fifth round tie on Saturday to increase the pressure on boss Andre Villas-Boas.

The hosts were booed off the pitch at the final whistle as the Premiership side had to come from behind to draw against Chris Hughton’s team.

The out-of-form Blues made a disappointing start to the match and failed to make an impact against the visitors who are now unbeaten in 14 league and cup games.

Birmingham took the lead from the first real chance of the game as David Murphy hammered into the corner to put the League Cup winners en route for a shock at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea should have equalised immediately when Wade Elliott brought down Ramires inside the box and referee Martin Atkinson awarded a penalty, but Colin Doyle tipped Juan Mata’s spot-kick onto the post.

David Luiz forced a save out of the City keeper from a free-kick but it was an otherwise minimal response from the home side after going behind.

Villas-Boas’ side made a better start to the second-half following the introduction of Didier Drogba at half-time.

But it was Birmingham who squandered the best of the early chances when Nathan Redmond blazed over from a corner.

Daniel Sturridge eventually equalised for the fifth-placed Premier League outfit when his glancing header found the back of the net from Branislav Ivanovic’s cross.

Salomon Kalou nearly put them ahead moments later but he could not steer his header on target and Chelsea failed to come any closer to snatching a win.

The west Londoners now face a fifth-round replay at St Andrews and the result does not ease any of the pressure on their under-fire manager.