Albion newcomer Yves Bissouma rescued them from a pre-season defeat at Birmingham today.

The Mali international midfielder, signed from Lille, scored with a stoppage time free-kick to snatch a 1-1 draw.

Bissouma, on in place of Pascal Gross, smashed the Seagulls level from just outside the box.

Albion looked like losing to a Kieftenbelter for their Championship hosts.

Maikel Kieftenbeld's unstoppable strike from long range (below) gave Birmingham a first half lead at a rain-sodden St Andrew's.

The Argus: Mathew Ryan made a fingertip save to prevent Jacques Maghoma giving Birmingham a 15th minute advantage with an angled drive.

The Australian No.1 could do nothing about Kieftenbeld's strike 16 minutes later after Albion cleared a right-wing cross by Che Adams.

The Dutch midfielder cut across the ball with a right-foot half-volley 30 yards out which left Ryan clutching air.

The Seagulls posed little threat to the home side in the first half and almost fell further behind in the 55th minute, Che Adams firing just wide inside the box from sub Viv Solomon-Otabor's knockdown.

Birmingham keeper Connal Trueman was seriously tested for the first time by an Anthony Knockaert shot two minutes later, which he parried behind.

Albion should have been level midway through the second half. Knockaert's inviting cross was met by Lewis Dunk with a close range header which youngster Trueman, in goal for Birmingham with ex-Seagulls duo David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak both surplus to requirements, managed to block away.

Albion go to Nice on Tuesday for a friendly behind closed doors before completing their preparations for the Premier League against Nantes at the Amex on Friday (7.45pm).

Albion (4-4-1-1): Ryan; Bruno, Dunk (Balogun 75), Duffy, Bernardo; Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, March; Gross (Bissouma 71); Murray (Hemed 75).

Subs: Button, White, Suttner, Gyokeres.

Birmingham (4-3-3): Trueman; Colin, Morrison (Roberts 75), Dean, Pedersen; Jota (Solomon-Otabor 46), Gardner (Ndoye 71), Kieftenbeld; Jutkiewicz (Dacres-Cogley 82), Adams, Maghoma (Lubala 71).

Subs: Weaver, Harding, Lakin.

Referee: Rob Jones.