The Independent
Gardner digs deep as Toffees lose their bite
Craig Gardner, who came out as a "lifelong Bluenose" after defecting from Aston Villa in January, rescued a point with his first goal for Birmingham after they trailed Everton by two goals early in an entertaining tussle between two sides with designs on a place in next season's Europa League. Everton, with Mikel Arteta strutting his stuff in midfield, looked to be cruising to victory after goals by the Nigerian-born duo of Victor Anichebe, his first of the season, and Yakubu Ayegbeni. Only the agility of Joe Hart stood between the visitors and a rout, but a fortuitous riposte by Cameron Jerome gave Birmingham hope. Gardner, who had climbed off his sick bed to play, fulfilled it with a sharp equaliser.
The Guardian
Craig Gardner goal secures draw for Birmingham against Everton
Mid-table obscurity was the height of Birmingham's ambitions at the start of the season but with a place in the Europa League still a possibility going into this game manager Alex McLeish warned his players not to let their season fizzle out. But they began without spark here and Everton nearly blew them away.
The Telegraph
Birmingham City 2 Everton 2
In the race to secure the Premier League's equivalent of a consolation prize, a place in the Europa League next season, no significant progress to report from St Andrew's yesterday.
In the race to emerge from the shadows of their more feted neighbours, again no news of an advance from the second city to cheer the terrace fans of either Birmingham City or Everton.
The Times
Battling Birmingham make their point against Everton
There is something in the make-up of most Scots that attracts them to the role of the outsider. It was on show here as opposing managers Alex McLeish and David Moyes, whose teams are chasing an unlikely European place, made it harder for each other to attain..