Liam Ridgewell scored an injury-time equaliser to salvage a point for Birmingham with a 1-1 draw and put a dent in Tottenham's Champions League hopes.

Jermain Defoe had looked to have put Spurs on course for a double over Blues and condemn them to a second defeat in four days.

But Ridgewell popped up in the dying seconds to rescue a share of the spoils for the home side.

The visitors were the better side for long periods with David Bentley impressing on the right wing and full-back Gareth Bale getting forward on the opposite flank to good effect.

And the poor finishing of City striker Christian Benitez highlighted why Alex McLeish is in the market for a striker with Spurs' Roman Pavlyuchenko remaining top of his wish list.

But Birmingham this season have had that never-say-die quality about their performances - and it surfaced again.

Blues leading scorer Lee Bowyer had a good chance to open the scoring after four minutes.

James McFadden linked up well with Benitez before playing the ball into the path of the midfielder 15 yards out.

But Bowyer did not make a full contact with his low drive and Heurelho Gomes was able to save away to his right.

A mistake by Bowyer almost proved costly after his loose pass was seized onto by Bentley. His shot was blocked by Liam Ridgewell but the rebound fell invitingly to Luka Modric who would have been disappointed to screw his shot past the far post.

McLeish seemed unhappy with the way his side had started judging by the verbal volley he aimed at his players who were guilty of some casual and sloppy play.

But Birmingham squandered another good opening on the counter-attack with Benitez this time guilty of some poor finishing.

Cameron Jerome created the chance and then Benitez found himself with only Gomes to beat after turning inside Michael Dawson.

But he fired a low weak drive straight at the Brazilian keeper when he could have picked his spot.

Bentley continued to pose a threat to the home side and he went past Ridgewell before unleashing a fierce shot from a narrow angle which Hart turned aside for a corner.

Birmingham forced a trio of corners in quick succession and the third of them from McFadden flew right across the six yard box but no-one was able to apply a finishing touch.

Tottenham began the second half on the offensive and Hart went down to his left to smother a shot from Bentley 12 yards out and was able to gather the rebound. Crouch missed Spurs' best chance of the game to date after 52 minutes.

Defoe was released by Wilson Palacios and then slightly miscontrolled the ball, but it fell invitingly to Crouch who stabbed a weak effort wide.

Johnson became the first player to be yellow carded after 57 minutes for showing dissent towards a referee's assistant.

Then Palacios was booked for bringing down Bowyer on the edge of the Spurs box The cautions were now coming thick and fast with Bowyer going into the notebook for a lunge at Palacios.

Tottenham's pressure finally paid off after 69 minutes when Bale's centre was flicked on by Crouch - and Defoe did the rest from close range.

Birmingham tried to retaliate and Benitez beat the offside trap to find himself clear of the Spurs defence. But the Ecuador international opted to cut back inside and, by the time he elected to shoot, Spurs had enough players back to block his shot.

Defoe was booked for deliberate handball as the home side tried to build up some momentum.

McFadden sliced a shot wide after a deflected drive from Jerome had fallen into his path. Then in injury time Ridgewell equalised for City after Jerome had headed a McFadden centre back across goal.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has admitted defeat in his attempts to sign Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko. McLeish will instead turn his attention to bringing in a "trophy loan signing' after Spurs rejected Blues' offers - believed to be around £10 million - for the Russia frontman.

McLeish currently has only two strikers as his disposal in Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez because of injuries to Kevin Phillips. McLeish said after Blues' 1-1 draw with Tottenham this afternoon: "It looks like the deal is dead in the water for Pavlyuchenko.

"It looks like we are not going to get the trophy signing we thought we might. But I think we have offered enough. We may now try and get a trophy signing on loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer. We are in a position where we don't need to break the bank with Carson Yeung's money.'

Tottenham, meanwhile, have confirmed the signing of Portsmouth centre-half Younes Kaboul, but Harry Redknapp admits attempts to sign keeper Asmir Begovic from the Fratton Park club have hit a snag.

Redknapp said: "There is a big problem in terms of the goalkeeper and I think Stoke are in there. I think he has changed his mind. Maybe Stoke have offered him the chance to be the number one there. It looks like he has done an about turn.'

Redknapp also revealed the importance of the transfer from Pompey's point of view. He added: "From what I've heard they needed to sell Kaboul today or face administration. He is a quality player.'

In terms of the match, Redknapp was furious after seeing his side concede a last-gasp equaliser: "We deserved to win and the goal we gave away was horrendous. We defended poorly. Until we went ahead, Birmingham were never in the game but then we sat off them, invited them onto us and that was the problem.'

McLeish felt Ridgewell's goal was poetic justice after City had been beaten by a late goal when the sides met at White Hart Lane earlier in the season. He said: "When we played them there they hit us with a sucker goal in the last minute against the run of play and we felt very sore about that. Today I am delighted at the way we grabbed a late goal and Harry is probably feeling the way I felt at their place.'

Birmingham Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell,Larsson (Fahey 58), Bowyer (Marcos Madera 65), Ferguson,McFadden, Benitez, Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Queudrue, Damien Johnson, Vignal, Gardner.

Booked: Roger Johnson, Bowyer, McFadden, Carr.

Goals: Ridgewell 90.

Tottenham Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, King, Bale,Bentley (Jenas 89), Huddlestone, Palacios, Modric, Crouch,Defoe (Keane 78).
Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Hutton, Bassong, Kranjcar, Rose.

Booked: Palacios, Defoe.

Goals: Defoe 69.

Att: 27,238

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).