Heskey lasted just 9 minutes of the game at St Andrew's on Sunday afternoon before hobbling off with an ankle injury and with Blues trailing 1-0 following Jermain Jenas' 3rd minute opener for the visitors.
Heskey's replacement, Dwight Yorke equalised for Blues midway through the first half and they then took a 2-1 lead with Matty Upson's first ever goal for the club 12 minutes after the break.
Nicky Butt earned Graeme Souness' side a share of the spoils with a superb equaliser 22 minutes from time.
"All credit to the player. Its been a disappointing start in terms of the ammount of points we've picked up but if we keep playing like that against a top side like Newcastle there's standards we can set ourselves," Bruce said after the game.
"We were 1-0 down and looking for people to dig deep, which we've got. I though they were terrific."
On Heskeys injury, Bruce said: "Emile's got a bad ankle which we've known for about a month now. We've tried to ease him through it in training but unfortunately he's twisted it today."
Bruce welcomed David Dunn back into the side for his first start of the season and the Blues midfielder, who was instrumental throughout, earned the praise of the Blues boss.
"Anybody that was in the stadium today will realise what a very good player he is," said Bruce.
"He's an exceptional talent. As soon as he gets the ball there's a bit of a buzz because you're always expecting something to happen.
"We'll work hard on him, we've needed to be patient with him, so lets hope now that bares fruits."
Heskey's replacement, Dwight Yorke equalised for Blues midway through the first half and they then took a 2-1 lead with Matty Upson's first ever goal for the club 12 minutes after the break.
Nicky Butt earned Graeme Souness' side a share of the spoils with a superb equaliser 22 minutes from time.
"All credit to the player. Its been a disappointing start in terms of the ammount of points we've picked up but if we keep playing like that against a top side like Newcastle there's standards we can set ourselves," Bruce said after the game.
"We were 1-0 down and looking for people to dig deep, which we've got. I though they were terrific."
On Heskeys injury, Bruce said: "Emile's got a bad ankle which we've known for about a month now. We've tried to ease him through it in training but unfortunately he's twisted it today."
Bruce welcomed David Dunn back into the side for his first start of the season and the Blues midfielder, who was instrumental throughout, earned the praise of the Blues boss.
"Anybody that was in the stadium today will realise what a very good player he is," said Bruce.
"He's an exceptional talent. As soon as he gets the ball there's a bit of a buzz because you're always expecting something to happen.
"We'll work hard on him, we've needed to be patient with him, so lets hope now that bares fruits."
| Premiership Birmingham City 2 Newcastle United 2 03 October 2004 at 15:00 |
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