WEST Brom manager Bryan Robson was left to bemoan his side's inept finishing as Birmingham scrambled a fortuitous 1-1 draw in the Premiership relegation battle at St Andrews.

The Baggies were guilty of some dreadful first-half misses with Diomansy Kamara, Kevin Campbell and Jan Kozak the chief culprits.

In the end the visitors needed a goal from substitute Nathan Ellington . . . his first for three and a half months . . .

to cancel out a penalty from Blues striker Mikael Forssell.

It means Albion remain three points ahead of City although Steve Bruce's side have a game in hand and a slightly superior goal difference.

The Birmingham defence seemed all at sea from the first minute with Martin Taylor and Martin Latka looking unsure of themselves.

Robson said: "We had three chances in the first half. They were not really chances but absolute sitters. We are disappointed we didn't put them away. Kamara and Campbell missed good opportunities and Kozak is probably our best finisher so I was surprised when his rebound shot was kicked off the line.

"Those free chances should have put us in front at half time but we keep missing too many good chances in games.

If you keep doing that, you will always be struggling in matches. But I am delighted with the character shown by the players.

"It is difficult when you go a goal down in a game like that but we kept playing our football and created chances and I've got to give my players credit for that.

"It is psychologically favourable for us to still be outside the bottom three. It is good for the players' confidence and gives you something to build on again.

"Our last three performances have been very good although the results haven't been what we would have wanted."

Robson felt it was a harsh penalty awarded against defender Curtis Davies after a challenge by Forssell and he also believed Campbell was fouled in the build-up move to the penalty.