Birmingham City missed the chance to move into the top six after they were held to a draw by fellow promotion candidates Derby County this evening.

Johnny Russell of Derby County celebrates after he scores his teams opening goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Derby County at St Andrews (stadium) on August 21, 2015 © Getty Images

Gary Rowett's side threatened to draw first blood in the opening stages as first Demarai Gray's shot on the turn stung the palms of Scott Carson before Clayton Donaldson could only direct a close-range header straight at the former England international soon after.

Derby's best chance of the opening period came when Tom Ince found space to unleash a curling effort that beat Tomasz Kuszczak, but came back off the frame of the goal.

Carson was called into action again late in the half to deny Gray after the teenager's well-struck shot was parried away from danger.

Jon Toral of Birmingham is challenged by Richard Keogh of Derby during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Derby County at St Andrews (stadium) on August 21, 2015 © Getty Images

However, the ex-Liverpool stopper was unable to keep out Stephen Gleeson's strike on the stroke of half time, which took a wicked deflection off Chris Baird before nestling in the bottom corner of the net.

Kuszczak was nearly beaten himself within minutes of the restart after flapping at an effort from Craig Forsyth before the Polish keeper redeemed himself by denying Darren Bent on the rebound.

However, the former Manchester United man was unable to stop Derby equaliser just after the hour mark when Ince found Johnny Russell and, from a tight angle, the midfielder rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

Bent nearly put the Rams ahead on 64 minutes with a glancing header that grazed the crossbar, with Kuszczak rooted to the spot.

Derby thought they had been awarded a penalty when Chris Martin went down inside the area. Instead, referee Lee Mason decided to book the forward for diving, to the dismay of Martin and his teammates.

Moments later, County almost took the lead after substitute Andreas Weimann's shot looked to be rolling into the back of the net before Kuszczak intervened at the last minute to tip the ball onto the post.

Martin tried to snatch a late winner for the Rams, but his shot was blocked as the visitors were forced to settle for their fourth draw in four Championship games.