Adilson Malanda pounced on a fumble from Birmingham City goalkeeper James Beadle to snatch a point for Middlesbrough at St Andrew's.

The defender was quickest to react when the Blues shot stopper failed to deal with a Sebastian Berhalter free-kick two minutes from the end.

Max Arfsten had put Boro ahead before the break, making the most of some fine work from Amario Cozier-Duberry before calmly placing his finish beyond Beadle.

Canada international Liam Millar levelled with a first-time finish, while it took the chaos caused from a corner to put Blues ahead when Boro's Riley McGree came up with the final touch for an own goal.

Chris Davies' Birmingham appeared to be heading for their first home win of the season before Malanda popped up with the dramatic late equaliser.

Birmingham made a bright start, with Jhon Solis putting an early chance wide, while it took a fine reaction save from Radek Vítek to keep out a point-blank Luis Vazquez header in the 18th minute.

Vitek went on to deal with an effort from Millar, while Middlesbrough finished the first half with a flurry of chances.

Cozier-Duberry fired over the bar after linking up with Myles Peart-Harris and Will Lankshear had a shot deflected onto a post just minutes before Arfsten broke the deadlock.

While Arfsten came up with the finish, the chance was superbly carved out by Cozier-Duberry as he cut in from right and beat a number of attempted tackles before finding the American.

Millar's low finish to level up early in the second half added to his already glowing reputation at Birmingham, where he has made a huge impact since arriving on loan from Premier League side Hull City in August.

The goal that put Birmingham ahead four minute later was a messy one, with a Jay Stansfield header at the back post from a corner hitting a number of bodies before McGree directed it into his own net.

It took a mistake from Beadle, although the goalkeeper argued he had been fouled, to allow Malanda to force the ball home and ensure Middlesbrough remain level on points with second-placed West Ham in the table.

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies told BBC WM:

"It was a sickening way to drop points, being so close to the end. But there as a lot to like about us today.

"I said to the players in there that as much as it hurts, and it will hurt, we have to stay really positive and take lot from these first eight games.

"We played some of our best football in the first half that we have this season at home. We then conceded a few chances, but the game was there for us.

"The way they started [the second half] was magnificent. It got the crowd up. We deserved our goals and were on the up.

"It showed great character again. I'm just gutted for the players that they couldn't get the win in the end.

On the fumble from goalkeeper Beadle that led to Boro's late leveller: "Some players were telling me it was in his hands, he thinks it was, but it was one of those situations where it was very unfortunate.

"James has been superb this season and I must say he has saved us lot of times. He has made big saves and is a super keeper. It's just one of those unfortunate things that can happen and it cost us today."

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees:

"There's a lot of things that need to improve, but there are a lot of things that are very, very good.

"The first half was very good and I think it was poor from us in the second half. But that's the thing, we need to work on how we understand the game and what is needed from us.

"We gave away so many set plays in the second half, so in that period of time they don't do anything we just gave them away. They kept putting them in the box, and it builds the pressure with the crowd.

"When you summarise this [first eight games] the players have been brilliant, doing a lot of things good and we have scored a lot of goals. Everyone can see we need to concede fewer. But how do we do that, how do we defend better, how do we do better on the ball and how do be more clever?"