Jussi Jaaskelainen was dismissed in the first half for violent conduct as his Bolton Wanderers side fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Birmingham City in a pulsating match at the Reebox Stadium.

Birmingham came racing out of the traps against a recently impressive Bolton side, good work on the right flank by James McFadden released Lee Bowyer, as the midfielder paced into the penalty area ahead of Gretar Steinsson, and the 33-year-old cut the ball back across the face of goal for Roger Johnson to slot home his first for the club.

The Blues continued their dominance after the breakthrough, pegging the home side inside their own half with Sebastian Larsson floating in a couple of free kicks to test their opposition’s resolve.

Bolton’s first real assault on Ben Foster’s goal came after 20 minutes when a powerful run by Johan Elmander, from the edge of his own penalty, resulted in a free kick for his side on the edge of Birmingham’s penalty area. Stuart Holden took over, and his dipping attempt forced a good save out of the England international.

Wanderers finally started to settle mid-way through the first half, and started nullifying Birmingham’s dominance by flinging cross after cross into the area, only to be thwarted by goal scorer Roger Johnson and his centre-back partner Scott Dann.

This pressure was immediately undercut by a moment of sheer madness by Trotters goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. As Roger Johnson chased a loose ball, he clumsily collided with the Finnish goalkeeper, and as they were both getting to their feet, Johnson started to apologise only to be met by the open palm of Jaaskelainen to his face. The 35-year-old was immediately dismissed as Johnson saw yellow for the initial challenge.

Birmingham started the second half as they began the first, and were rewarded with a second goal just five minutes after the break.

James McFadden again impressed in the build-up, and his floated cross found Cameron Jerome to nod back across goal for Craig Gardner to slot home at the second attempt to put his side 2-0 in front.

Wanderers should have got one back immediately when Chung-Yong Lee’s lofted ball forward found Elmander in the area but, with the ball slightly behind the Swedish striker, he miss-hit his effort and Foster comfortably cleaned up.

Despite their superior attacking intent the Trotters were very wasteful in front of goal but when Johnson, the man involved in all of the tie’s action, was penalised for climbing all over Kevin Davies inside the area, the 33-year-old got up and promptly smashed home an emphatic penalty for his 100th league goal to give his team a lifeline that they appeared unable to find themselves.

The penalty seemed to give Bolton the belief that they could get a result after being 2-0 down and just 10 minutes later they were level when new signing Robbie Blake curled home a fantastic free-kick for his first for his new club, against one of his old clubs.

Both clubs came close to a winner in the final stages, with Davies first shooting into the side netting from a tight angle.

Then, deep into injury time, Jerome was thwarted by Bolton’s substitute keeper Adam Bogdan, on his Premier League debut, to save an unlikely point for his team.