BLACKBURN Rovers could only draw at home to Birmingham City in their crunch Premier League clash this afternoon.

Rovers moved a point further clear of the relegation zone - 14th in the table, three points outside the bottom three - but needed Junior Hoilett's equaliser just before half time to cancel out Lee Bowyer's goal for Birmingham.

Jermaine Jones missed a chance to put Rovers ahead in the first minute when he slipped and then scuffed wide, with Chris Samba then heading inches wide of the target from Morten Gamst Pedersen's free kick.

Rovers were having the better of the game but Birmingham went ahead against the run of play in the 33rd minute when Seb Larsson found Cameron Jerome and the striker dinked the ball over Paul Robinson for Bowyer to head home from little more than a yard. Rovers fans protested that Bowyer was offside but the goal was given.

Michel Salgado came close to levelling as his goalbound shot was blocked but Birmingham almost made it 2-0 as his 25-yard free kick came back off the inside of the post.

After a couple of lengthy injury stoppages, though, Rovers levelled in the seven minute of added-on time at the end of the first half when Hoilett dispossessed Ridgewell and raced clear, rounding Ben Foster before finding the net.

Robinson saved another Larsson free kick at the start of the second half but Roque Santa Cruz then headed against the top of the bar after good work from Hoilett on the right.

But Rovers lost the influential Hoilett to injury midway through the second half and substitute Brett Emerton fired over late on as Steve Kean's side could not find a crucial second goal.

Rovers: Paul Robinson; Michel Salgado, Chris Samba, Ryan Nelsen (Jason Roberts 35), Martin Olsson; Junior Hoilett (Brett Emerton 69), Jermaine Jones, Phil Jones, David Dunn, Morten Gamst Pedersen; Roque Santa Cruz (Benjani 63). Subs not used: Mark Bunn, Grant Hanley, Ruben Rochina, Mame Biram Diouf.

Birmingham: Ben Foster; Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson (Curtis Davies 46), Liam Ridgewell, Stuart Parnaby; Seb Larsson, Craig Gardner, Barry Ferguson, Lee Bowyer; Kevin Phillips, Cameron Jerome. Subs not used: Colin Doyle, David Murphy, Jordon Mutch, Keith Fahey, Alex Hleb, Matt Derbyshire.

Referee: Chris Foy.

Attendance: 28,426.