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Unfortunately the game failed to live up to expectations and although there was a great deal of effort in midfield there was no end product.
Stan Lazaridis created the only serious bid on goal in the early stages when the Australian's curling free-kick from the right was just off target.
In such an untidy game there were frequent stoppages but Birmingham should have moved ahead in the 36th minute when Rufus Brevett was sent off for handling the ball on the line as he kept out a Darren Purse header following Lazaridis' corner.
John, who has only scored three goals this season, failed to capitalise upon Birmingham's good fortune as he fired his penalty low to the left of van der Sar who made an easy save.
Van der Sar, the former Ajax and Juventus goalkeeper, had earlier foiled Geoff Horsfield when the ex-Fulham player beat two players before firing a low shot that was turned away for a corner.
No-one worked harder than Robbie Savage to break the stalemate. Savage, who left immediately after the match to link up with the Welsh side, was a tireless worker but Fulham continued to deny the Midlanders.
Van der Sar continued to earn the match honours as he demonstrated in the 58th minute with a point-blank save from a Purse header following yet another accurate cross from Lazaridis.
Battling Fulham suffered a second setback when Steve Marlet was sent off in the 79th minute when he appeared to kick out at Savage who was booked and within two minutes replaced by Jovan Kirovski.