On this day: Birmingham’s great escape in 2014

Paul Caddis wrote himself into Birmingham City folklore with an injury time equaliser that saw them avoid the drop to League One.

The Blues travelled to mid-table Bolton needing a favour elsewhere and a positive result themselves, having started the afternoon in the bottom three.

After a nerve-shredding match, the Scottish full back – a recent recruit from Swindon – headed home a rebound in the 93^rd minute to salvage a 2-2 draw and safety.

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It was enough for Birmingham to escape relegation on goal difference, with Doncaster falling 1-0 at 102-point champions Leicester, courtesy of a 75^th minute David Nugent penalty.

All hope looked lost for Birmingham just after the former England international slotted home in the midlands though.

Just a minute later, Lukas Jutkiewicz gave Bolton a 2-0 lead as he somehow squeezed a low drive past a disappointed Darren Randolph at the near post.

Chung-yong Lee had earlier opened the scoring in the 57^th minute, with a close-range half volley as he was left unmarked on a set-piece, following a tense first-half at the Reebok Stadium.

Serbian striker Nikola Zigic restored some optimism among the three and a half thousand travelling supporters by pulling a goal back with twelve minutes to play.

It was a towering, looping header typical of the six-foot-seven, £65,000-a-week target man.

Birmingham threw everything forward in search of the leveller as the clock ticked down, but they struggled to break down the resolute defence Championship fans have come to expect from a Dougie Freedman side.

The blues finally got the stroke of luck they needed halfway into the six minutes of additional time.

Jordan Ibe cut inside the box and his blocked shot fell for Zigic, who thought he’d equalised with another trademark effort only for American centre-back Tim Ream scrambled clear off the line.

But the rebound then fell right onto the head of an unmarked Paul Caddis three yards from goal, who nonchalantly nodded in to ensure Birmingham’s survival and spark spine-tingling celebrations.

Caddis wheeled away topless like a young Ryan Giggs, as manager Lee Clark raced towards him down the touchline.

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The ecstasy was repeated by Birmingham’s players, staff and fans alike when the final whistle went shortly afterwards, but it meant agony for Doncaster who were so close to staying up themselves.

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