TOWN were left facing an FA Cup third-round replay at Birmingham City after their onslaught against the Second Division side ran out of steam.

Ian Greaves’ top-flight team created chance after chance in the opening half hour in front of a 20,486 crowd at Leeds Road.

But they had only one goal to show for their efforts, scored by Bobby Hoy in the 18th minute, and paid the price after 69.

There was more than a hint of controversy as Freddie Goodwin’s side hit back with a twice-taken penalty.

Town keeper Terry Poole was adamant he had been fouled as he came out for a corner which he punched clear, but only as far as Roger Hynd.

The former Crystal Palace defender’s header looked destined for the net – until right-back Dennis Clarke bundled it away with his hand.

Poole breathed a sigh of relief as Alan Campbell crashed the spot kick against an upright, only to be penalised for moving before the ball was kicked. Substitute Phil Summerill stepped up for the retake, and promptly beat Poole to level a tie which Brum came close to winning.

Hynd met a late free-kick with another diving header which left Poole grasping thin air but flew just wide, much to Town’s relief.

It had been Brum who were worried early on in a tie which because of a colour clash, meant both sides wore change strips under competition rules.

Town, in red and black stripes, started like a steam train, with Hoy and Jimmy Lawson working in tandem to slice through the visiting defence time and time again.

Jimmy McGill supplied the pass which freed Hoy to shoot under the diving Mike Kelly, who then foiled Frank Worthington, whose well-struck 25-yard shot looked destined for the roof of the net.

Then left-back Geoff Hutt sent in a piledriver which rattled the bar.

Strangely, Town abandoned their policy of neat groundwork for aerial tactics, and their attacking fizzled out.

There was also controversy at Blackpool, where West Ham lost 4-0 after skipper Bobby Moore, Jimmy Greaves, Clyde Best and Brian Dear were spotted in a nightclub on the eve of the game.

And Nottingham Forest’s City Ground tie with Luton, which finished 1-1, was held up for 14 minutes for repairs to a snapped goalpost!

Town’s reserve game at Bolton was postponed due to a frozen pitch.