JERMAINE PENNANT may have become the first Premiership footballer to play with an electronic Home Office tag. But the winger’s freedom to roam at St Andrews was not enough to bring Birmingham victory over a resolute Tottenham.

Pennant, 22, was thrust into Birmingham’s starting line-up only two days after leaving HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes, where he spent a month after his conviction on driving offences.

Football’s authorities cleared Pennant to play with the one-inch square tag strapped to his left ankle and Birmingham manager Steve Bruce decided to recall him.

“It was a conscious decision to play him because I wanted to get it out of the way,” Bruce said. “I hope he will now be left alone to rebuild his life and his football.”

Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger gave a strong hint yesterday that Pennant’s loan move to Birmingham is about to become a permanent one. Bruce is keen to complete a deal for Pennant — believed to be worth about £3m — and Wenger appeared to suggest a move was imminent in his programme notes before Arsenal’s clash with Norwich at Highbury. Wenger wrote of Pennant: “I think that now it is more likely that his future will be at Birmingham rather than at Arsenal, and a decision on that could be made before the end of the season.”

Pennant, who has to wear the tracking device for another fortnight, played 55 minutes yesterday before he was substituted to a warm ovation from the home supporters.

Referee Howard Webb, a policeman by profession, gave final approval for Pennant to play after deciding the tag on his ankle was not a danger to himself or to his opponents.

Birmingham were looking to register a fourth successive home league victory and Spurs were anxious to end an away run in which they had lost their past four Premiership matches on the road.

In the end, neither side made a valid claim to the three points. Spurs were denied by two brilliant saves by Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor and Birmingham’s Clinton Morrison missed a chance in stoppage time to grab victory.

Tottenham created the better chances in an entertaining first half. After 10 minutes, Jermain Defoe saw a header hooked off the line by Jamie Clapham. Then Fredi Kanoute played a header into Defoe’s path and when his shot was blocked Andy Reid curled a left-footer narrowly wide.

For Birmingham, Emile Heskey led the line energetically without benefiting from decent service. He dragged one left-foot shot wide and saw another held by Paul Robinson.

Spurs broke the deadlock 13 minutes into the second half. Michael Carrick curled in a cross from the left and substitute full-back Stephen Kelly burst into the penalty area, chested the ball down and drove it into the corner of the net. The goal should have killed off Birmingham’s challenge but the visitors gave away a soft equaliser after 65 minutes. Robinson and left-back Erik Edman got themselves mixed up dealing with a loose ball and Darren Carter pounced.

Spurs head coach Martin Jol sent on Mido and switched his team to a 4-3-3 formation. Within two minutes the Egyptian striker almost scored but his drive flew wide. Then came the two saves which kept Birmingham in the game. First Taylor dived to keep out a powerful header from Mido and then the substitute set up Kanoute who seemed certain to score but Taylor’s stop was again outstanding.

Bruce sent on Morrison in the search for a winner but the Republic of Ireland international, who scored for his country last week, made the miss of the game. Damien Johnson crossed from the right, substitute Julian Gray nodded the ball down but Morrison volleyed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Jol was disappointed not to have taken all three points but knows where the fault lies. “We do not score enough goals away from home,” the Dutch coach said. But he maintains Spurs’ aim for a place in Europe remains a realistic one.

As for Pennant’s ankle jewellery, Bruce joked: “I would like to tag all my players. At least I would know where they all are.”

STAR MAN: Maik Taylor (Birmingham City)

Player ratings. Birmingham: Taylor 8; Melchiot 7, Cunningham 7, Upson 7, Clapham 6; Pennant 7 (Gray 55min, 6), Johnson 7, Carter 7, Lazaridis 6 (Nafti 71 min, 6); Pandiani 6 (Morrison 66min, 6), Heskey 7.

Tottenham: Robinson 6; Pamarot 6 (Kelly 13min, 7), King 6, Naybet 7 (Mido 70min, 7), Edman 6; Reid 7, Brown 7, Carrick 7, Ziegler 6 (Davis 38min, 7); Defoe 7, Kanoute 7

Scorers: Birmingham: Carter 65

Tottenham: Kelly 58

Referee: H Webb

Attendance: 29,304

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