A much-changed United side got off to a flyer in the Second City, as Daryl Murphy netted his first goal for the club just six minutes in.
Though they enjoyed the better of the first half, Rafa Benitez’s side were pegged back before the break, as Birmingham forward Lukas Jutkiewicz took full advantage of a switch-off at the back.
A low-key second half passed by largely without incident, meaning the Sky Bet Championship rivals will meet for a second time – at St. James’ Park – a week on Wednesday.
United were quick to set about their business at St. Andrew’s, with Achraf Lazaar – deployed as a wing-back – causing a threat down the left.
Four minutes in, Lazaar was felled by the Blues’ Diego Fabbrini just outside the penalty area. The Moroccan swung in the free-kick himself, and only a glancing touch from Paul Robinson prevented Aleksandar Mitrovic from converting.
Lazaar then delivered the resultant corner, and this time, Gianfranco Zola’s side failed to clear their lines. After something of a scramble, the loose ball trickled out to Murphy at the back post, who was left with a straightforward finish.
The Magpies’ opener came at a cost, however, as Mitrovic was forced to leave the field on a stretcher after suffering a leg injury in the melee.
Just before the quarter of an hour mark, another Lazaar corner found its way through a crowd of bodies and dropped to Mitrovic’s replacement, Yoan Gouffran, 12 yards out. The Frenchman took a touch to set, before firing narrowly wide of the near post.
United continued to make all of the early running, and 19 minutes in, Gouffran called the hosts’ Adam Legzdins into action with a low-struck effort from range.
Grant Hanley then nodded just over the top from a central position, Lazaar again the architect with an inviting corner.
Save for a hopeful David Davis effort from distance, Birmingham had offered little in the attacking third in the opening period, but – with 41 minutes on the clock – they caught the Magpies napping.
Jonathan Grounds got the better of Lazaar on the edge of the area, and Jutkiewicz – left totally unmarked – was on hand to sweep home the full-back’s low cross from six yards.
There was still time for another scare before the break. Matz Sels – making his first appearance since November’s EFL Cup defeat at Hull City – opted to punch a cross from the right, affording Grounds the chance to fire just over the target with a first-time effort.
A lively end to the first half did not set the tone for the second, however.
Neither ‘keeper was called into action until the 67th minute, when Sels gathered Davis’ rising strike at the second attempt.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, Newcastle substitute Matt Ritchie fired an enticing ball across the face of goal, but United had nobody on hand to convert.
The Blues then squandered a fine chance to complete the turnaround. Josh Dacres-Cogley’s cross from the right was inch-perfect for Jutkiewicz, but the former Burnley frontman misjudged his timing, and the ball dropped harmlessly wide.
Another opportunity then fell Jutkiewicz’s way in the closing moments of normal time. Again, the delivery – this time from Davis – could hardly have been better, but the Blues’ marksman failed to keep his header on target.
It was the home side who looked the more adventurous as two minutes of stoppage time came and went, but their winless start under Zola continued as the Magpies held firm.
Birmingham City: Adam Legzdins, Jonathan Grounds, Paul Robinson, Ryan Shotton, Maikel Kieftenbeld, Stephen Gleeson, Diego Fabbrini (Greg Stewart 79), Che Adams, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Jonathan Spector (Josh Dacres-Cogley 44) David Davis.
Newcastle United: Matz Sels, DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles, Grant Hanley, Massadio Haidara (Matt Ritchie 70), Achraf Lazaar, Vurnon Anita, Cheick Tiote (Isaac Hayden 65), Jack Colback, Daryl Murphy, Aleksandar Mitrovic (Yoan Gouffran 10).
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Bookings: Birmingham City – none; Newcastle United – Isaac Hayden (67).
