Albion v Birmingham - from The Amex (From The Argus)

7:48pm

Thanks for following. Keep an eye on this website for reaction to today's game.

7:45pm

7:45pm

7:45pm

Albion being clapped off by quite a few fans - but they lacked that cutting edge today.

7:42pm

Five minutes were added on.

7:39pm

7:38pm

LuaLua surely hould have a free-kick just outside the box. Appeals were waved away and there was uproar on the home bench. But no sign of an equaliser.

7:32pm

7:31pm

7:27pm

7:23pm

Birmingham sent on Redmond to add potential counter attack threat while Albion brought off Buckley, who had switched to the left, and sent on LuaLua. That Albion change came on 72 minutes as the hosts continued to push forward without really testing Butland. 

7:21pm

7:17pm

Elliott was booked for clattering into Bridge. Lopez playing almost as an inside right with room for Calderon to get up outside him.  

7:12pm

Surprising sub on 61 as Lopez replaces El-Abd. Hammond moves into defence. Albion piling on plenty of pressure and winning corners but not testing Butland.

7:06pm

Just offered you a tweet from West Midlands radio.

7:05pm

7:04pm

7:04pm

7:03pm

More energy about Albion now. Bridge got to the byline after a great pass by Dicker and his low driven cross almost deflected in. 

6:59pm

The long interlude actually got the fans singing. Good noise as second half got under way with Albion attacking the North Stand. But they made a terrible mess of an early corner.

6:56pm

Second half under way

6:52pm

Both teams warming up and light close to normal now. Looks like play will resume soon.

6:49pm

Birmingham return for a warm-up. Looks like light is gradually being restored.

6:48pm

6:44pm

6:44pm

6:41pm

Albion missing Mackail-Smith. Less tempo about their game today.

6:40pm

6:39pm

We are being told the teams will be out shortly.

6:39pm

The two sets of subs continue to warm up on the pitch.

6:38pm

Everthing else is working - other lights around the stadium, the two big screens, PA system, etc. But floodlights suddenly went out.

6:37pm

Looks like we will have an extended interval after the floodlights went out during half-time.

6:20pm

A solid job by Birmingham in the first half topped off by a very good finish.

6:19pm

Half-time

6:16pm

Birmingham were on a low ebb coming here but you can see them grow in confidence as the half wears on.

6:11pm

6:07pm

6:07pm

Good professional job by Birmingham so far.

6:06pm

El-Abd also failed to make proper contact - this time on a header - when it seemed he could score.

6:03pm

Burke goal was bad news for Albion of course but it has done wonders for the match and the atmosphere.

6:02pm

...although Blues got Lita in on goal and he scuffed his shot when should have scored.

6:02pm

The goal certainly lifted the noise levels and Albion had a squall of pressure straight after it....

5:57pm

Colin Tattum, whose tweets I am using here from time to time, is the Blues reporter on the Birmingham Mail.

5:56pm

5:56pm

5:54pm

5:51pm

Quiet first 15 minutes. Albion with plenty of possesion but will ave to be patient and precise to work their way through.

5:50pm

5:44pm

Early excitement with that first-minute corner but the game settled into a more even affair after that in first ten minutes. One great bit of defending by Bridge when it seemed Burke might get away.

5:43pm

5:37pm

5:37pm

5:37pm

Calderon had a shot blocked inside the box in the frst minute from an Albion corner as they play towards the South Stand. Buckley being invited to run at newly-acquired Blues left-back Robinson. 

5:31pm

Good time for a reminder that, while the game is actually in progress, I am subject to a three-minute time delay on this service. That does not apply to our Twitter feeds @AndyNaylorArgus and @Brian__Owen

5:30pm

Pre-match rituals are just about complete. Bruno and Vicente having a quick catch-up with their former Valencia colleague Zigic down by the benches.

5:26pm

Not a big following from Birmingham. And Albion have not sold all the tickets Blues would have returned. So there will empty seats right behind the South Stand goal. But looking just about full apart from that.

5:22pm

5:19pm

For those of you wondering about the origins of today's ref Ollie Langford (West Midlands), he comes from Wednesbury which, I believe I am right in saying, is on the road between West Brom and Wolverhampton.

5:17pm

5:15pm

5:08pm

5:07pm

Thrilling 3-2 win for Watford at Huddersfield keeps Albion top - but arguably the more significant news was the continuing progress of Cardiff and Wolves.

4:57pm

Very off-topic but I can tell you Peacehaven have won 1-0 at Selsey - never an easy place to go.

4:55pm

4:54pm

Just been working on our team news story which is now online. Teams are now out warming up as the crowd builds up slowly.

4:42pm

Looks like Hayden Mullins and Marlon King failed to fully recover from midweek illness. Leroy Lita leads the attack for Blues.

4:41pm

Birmingham: Butland, Packwood, Robinson, Davies, Caldwell, Burke, Spector, Fahey, Elliott, Lovenkrands, Lita.

4:41pm

Albion go Kuszczak; Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge; Bridcutt, Dicker, Hammond; Barnes, Buckley, Dobbie. Subs: Ankergren, Painter, Dunk, David, Harley, LuaLua, Agdestein. 

4:40pm

4:38pm

Cardiff and Wolves moving level with the Seagulls on 16pts as things stand.

4:35pm

Thought I would post an early tweet from colleague Andy Naylor, chief sports writer at The Argus. You can follow Andy on Twitter @AndyNaylorArgus. I'm @Brian__Owen and our snapper Simon Dack is @SimonDackPix

4:34pm

4:33pm

Right, let's this get this started. Been here for ages! Albion v Birmingham City. There will be changes for the hosts with Mackail-Smith and Bruno expected to miss out through injury.