It was impossible not to feel sympathy for Jewell, who is approaching the first anniversary of his appointment. His players defended resolutely and the decision he complained about was bewildering.
Birmingham have proved adept at dramatic finishes this season and after Caldwell’s escape Nikola Zigic added another to the list to propel his team towards the play-offs.
Alex McLeish’s team have scored more goals in the last 10 minutes than any other Championship club and Zigic’s winner in the final seconds completed another last-gasp victory.
Birmingham are two points off the play-off positions, with an unbeaten record at St Andrew’s, and the way they refuse to admit defeat will give manager Chris Hughton renewed confidence in his bid to secure a place in the end of season shoot-out.
While Jewell’s luck is out, Hughton’s achievements are not to be sniffed at this season, especially when Birmingham’s parlous finances and a substantial exodus of players in the summer are considered.
However, his job may get even harder this month. Vice-chairman Peter Pannu’s column in the match programme made grim reading.“I tell friends when I am asked that 'no one is for sale, whilst all are available for sale’,” he wrote.
That raises the prospect of further sales sabotaging Hughton’s mission and one player likely to generate interest is Zigic, the giant Serbian international, whose header gave Birmingham a ninth-minute lead.
Any hopes of a routine home win were extinguished when the visitors equalised with their first snarl of defiance, through Martin’s excellent 20-yard strike.
Birmingham’s only second-half threat came when King struck the post. Jewell was then fidgeting with fury when Lewis failed to award a penalty for that clear foul on Martin, with 10 minutes left.
Jewell’s burning sense of injustice only increased when Zigic pounced from close range to seal another nerve-shredding finale.
Hughton said: “It was another late, late show . If you score late in a game it shows you’ve got character and resilience in the team to protect this very good home record.”
Birmingham (4-4-2): Myhill (Doyle 46); Spector, Davies, Caldwell, David Murphy; Burke, Gomis (Mutch 81), Fahey, Beausejour (Redmond 72); Zigic, King.
Subs: Doyle, Ridgewell, Mutch, Rooney.
Ipswich (4-4-2): McCarthy; Edwards, Sonko, Smith, Cresswell; Martin, Leadbitter, Drury, Daryl Murphy; Emmanuel-Thomas (Ellington 73), Scotland (Chopra 77).
Subs: Lee-Barrett, Carson, Ainsley.
Booked: Leadbitter.
Referee: R Lewis (Shrewsbury).