Albion picked up a handy point in a 0-0 draw at Birmingham today, despite a couple of injury blows.

The Seagulls lost Will Buckley in the warm-up with a hamstring problem and impressive Gonzalo Jara Reyes in the second half.

But they were rarely troubled by an unimaginative home side.

Marlon King dragged a shot wide when well placed early on and that was about it in terms of serious threat.

A back line with Inigo Calderon in central defence, coped well in a largely forgettable contest.

The Seagulls struggled to create any danger of their own, although debutant Billy Paynter almost got on the end of a Craig Noone cross seconds after coming off the bench for his debut on 67 minutes.

Paynter then did well to set up Craig Mackail-Smith, whose shot from the inside right channel rolled just wide of the far post.

Birmingham changed both their strikers at the same time, with 6ft 7in Nikola Zigic going on with Adam Rooney.

But it did not give them any extra cuttting edge.

Albion recalled Mauricio Taricco from his second retirement and the assistant boss went on for the closing stages after Jara Reyes was injured.