Goals from Harry Darling and Jamal Lowe were not enough as Swansea City were denied just a fifth-ever win over Birmingham City at St Andrew’s by Jordan James' last-gasp equaliser.

Darling had headed home the opener for the visitors in the first half, only for Siriki Dembele to quickly level for the Blues, who had Tony Mowbray in the dugout for the first time.

But the Swans carried the greater threat after the break and got their reward when Lowe turned in Josh Tymon’s pinpoint cross just before the hour mark.

However, Wales international James' low strike would deny them all three points at the death.

Swans head coach Luke Williams had spoken of the need for his players to show courage, and he and his coaching staff would have been pleased with how Swansea grew into the game after an uncertain start and continued to look to play, despite the heartache at the conclusion.

The Swans had shown nine changes from the FA Cup win over Morecambe, with Sam Parker and Nathan Wood the two players to retain their places for Williams’ first league game in charge.

Williams had challenged his side to be brave, and they certainly were as they played out from the back under pressure from the hosts.

Rushworth was off his line smartly to gather a cross-field pass for Dembele, while the Swans had a few promising moments when the likes of Liam Cullen and Jamie Paterson allowed them to beat the press.

Tymon nodded down a Paterson cross but could not find another pink shirt, while Cody Drameh dragged wide from Koji Miyoshi’s lay-off.

Bashir Humphreys’ looping header was gathered in by John Ruddy after Harry Darling had risen to nod back across goal, while young Sam Parker had a shot blocked.

It then took a terrific save from Rushworth to keep out Dembele’s strike after Jay Stansfield had robbed Humphreys, with Wood making a tremendous block to deny Krystian Bielik’s follow-up.

The Swans then went up the other end to take a 36th minute lead. Tymon won a corner and then delivered superbly for Darling to arrive and power home a header that left Ruddy with no chance.

However, the lead was shortlived as Birmingham got Dembele into space down their left-hand side and he was able to drive into the area and send the ball across Rushworth and into the far corner of the net just two minutes later.

The Swans survived a goalmouth scramble to go in level at the break, and Rushworth made a fine save seconds after the resumption when he stood tall to deny Dembele after the forward was allowed to play on despite appearing to be offside.

The visitors then had two good chances, Darling landing a header on top of the bar from a Matt Grimes free-kick, before Jamal Lowe was sent in behind the defence and had a low shot saved by Ruddy.

But Lowe made no mistake after crisp build up led to Grimes and Liam Cullen having the space to send Tymon cantering into space, and his cross was turned in at the near post by the forward for his sixth goal of the season.

The Swans lost Parker to a hamstring injury just after the hour mark, Joe Allen his replacement, while Jerry Yates also came on for Lowe.

Yates had a chance to make it three with 15 minutes to play, but could not reach a Paterson cross with the goal gaping and Ruddy committed.

The Swans had to see out eight minutes of stoppage time in order to secure the spoils, but Birmingham substitute James ensured they would leave the west Midlands with a point rather than all three.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth; Jay Fulton, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jamal Lowe (Jerry Yates 65), Jamie Paterson (Charlie Patino 84), Josh Tymon, Liam Cullen, Nathan Wood, Bashir Humphreys (Kyle Naughton 74), Sam Parker (Joe Allen 64)

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Kristian Pedersen, Nathanael Ogbeta, Yannick Bolasie, Ollie Cooper.

Birmingham City: John Ruddy, Lee Buchanan, Dion Sanderson (captain), Krystian Bielik, Scott Hogan (Tyler Roberts 65), Koji Miyoshi (Lukas Jutkiewicz 84), Cody Drameh, Siriki Dembele, Kevin Long (Emanuel Aiwu 84), Jay Stansfield (Jordan James 65), Ivan Sunjic (Juninho Bacuna 65).

Unused Substitutes: Neil Etheridge, Keshi Anderson, Gary Gardner, Oliver Burke.

Referee: Matthew Donohue

Attendance: 21,166 (1,986 away)