Bolton fought back from two goals and a man down to draw 2-2 with Birmingham in a pulsating encounter at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.
Roger Johnson finished a fine move to give Birmingham the lead after just four minutes, before Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was sent off in the 37th minute for a silly slap on the defender.
Midfielder Craig Gardner stabbed a well-deserved second for the visitors but Bolton battled back through a penalty from Kevin Davies and a brilliant late free kick from substitute Robbie Blake against his former club.
Alex McLeish's side started brightly and took the lead with a superbly worked goal from their first attack of the game. James McFadden broke down the left flank and crossed for striker Cameron Jerome, who flicked on for the sliding Johnson to steer home.
A mistake by Stephen Carr let in Bolton talisman Davies, who looked set to equalise until the Birmingham captain slid in to make an important block.
Birmingham responded with a chance of their own in the 35th minute as Gardner exposed some sloppy Bolton defending to set up McFadden, whose fierce volley was well saved by Jaaskelainen.
The whole complexion of the game then changed as Jaaskelainen was dismissed for a moment of madness. The Bolton goalkeeper challenged Johnson in the air to gather the ball and the pair tangled. As words were exchanged, Jaaskelainen inexplicably pushed the Birmingham man in the face and referee Kevin Friend had no choice but to send off the Finnish stopper.
Substitute goalkeeper Adam Bogdan came on to make his Premier League debut and he was hardly called upon until he was picking the ball out of the back of the net four minutes after half-time.
The 10-man hosts were caught napping as a simple cross from McFadden was nodded down by Jerome for Gardner to poke home from inside the six-yard box.
It looked all over for Owen Coyle's men, who were being outplayed by a Birmingham side who looked full of confidence.
But Bolton were thrown a lifeline in the 69th minute when Friend awarded a penalty for a shove on Davies by Johnson as they challenged for a ball in the air.
Davies made no mistake, blasting his spot-kick into the top corner and giving the home crowd something to cheer about.
Bolton completed their comeback nine minutes from time thanks to Blake's stunning free kick from just outside the box which flew past Blues keeper Ben Foster into the top corner.
All of a sudden, the shell-shocked visitors were on the back foot and Davies had a great chance to win it in the 85th minute after breaking down the right but his shot hit the side netting.
One attack flowed after another, and at the other end Bogdan saved his team a point with an outstanding save to his left to deny Jerome.