Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match between Birmingham City and Middlesbrough in the Championship.

As usual, the race for promotion from the Championship is being keenly-contested by a number of teams, but it's nights such as tonight that can make the difference. Despite participating in the FA Cup at the weekend, Middlesbrough still find themselves level on points with the league leaders, with just a point being required to move clear of Bournemouth and Derby County.

However, if Aitor Karanka's team can secure all three points at St Andrew's, that will provide them with the perfect boost after succumbing against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday and leave their immediate rivals under pressure on Saturday. Karanka has spoken in the past about the difficulty of retaining first place in the Championship, but if they can go three points clear this evening, that task would get slightly easier.

Right then, with just over 20 minutes to go until kickoff in the West Midlands, let's us a look at both starting lineups.

BIRMINGHAM CITY XI: Randolph; Caddis, Spector, Robinson, Grounds; Davis, Gleeson; Cotterill, Shinnie, Gray; Donaldson

BIRMINGHAM CITY SUBSTITUTES: Doyle, Thomas, Novak, Kiernan, Reilly, Zigic, Dyer

MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Forshaw; Nsue, Tomlin, Vossen; Bamford

MIDDLESBROUGH SUBSTITUTES: Mejias, Clayton, Adomah, Husband, Whitehead, Kike, Reach

Birmingham have made one alteration to the team that lost at home to Millwall on Saturday, which Demarai Gray coming in to replace Lloyd Dyer. There's also a place on the substitutes bench for defender Rob Kiernan, who has joined the Blues from Wigan Athletic.

As for Middlesbrough, Karanka has made three changes from the defeat in North London. The trio of Adam Clayton, Albert Adomah and Kike have all dropped to the bench, with Adam Forshaw, Emilio Nsue and Jelle Vossen all earning a place in the first XI.

All of the stats are in Middlesbrough's favour heading into this game. They are the form team in the division having registered 16 points from six games, compared to Birmingham's seven. However, perhaps the most important stat is the defensive record of the visitors. Middlesbrough have conceded just 20 goals in 30 games in the league, and when you take into account that six of Birmingham's 32 strikes came in the same game, they could find Boro's backine tough to break down during the 90 minutes.

PREDICTION! Birmingham's home record is considerably better than last year's effort, but five wins from 15 games isn't anything to shout about. As for Middlesbrough, they have emerged victorious on eight occasions on the road, and we are backing them to do so tonight, although we don't expect many goals. 1-0 to Karanka's men.

The two teams are making their way out onto the pitch at St Andrew's. We will be getting underway in just a few minutes.

We are underway in the West Midlands.

Middlesbrough have had the better of the early stages at St Andrew's and could have very easily taken the lead. After advancing towards goal, Adam Forshaw played the ball through to Emilio Nsue but the Equatorial Guinea international saw his shot deflected wide for a corner.

It has taken Birmingham a little while to settle, but they've managed to create their first opportunity through Peter Shinnie, but the winger's strike was never troubling the goalkeeper.

Since that moment, the visitors had earned a couple of corners but they didn't come close to creating anything with the respective deliveries into the penalty area. Aitor Karanka will be pleased with his team's start, though.

SAVE! Birmingham respond by drawing a solid stop out of Dimi Konstantopoulos. Again, it was Shinnie who had the strike on goal but the veteran stopper was able to get down to tip the ball away for a corner.

Back up the other end, Middlesbrough midfielder Grant Leadbitter sent in a cross from the left for Ben Gibson, but the defender's header was never troubling the goal.

Given their respective defensive and attacking records, it's been quite a lively start in the West Midlands. Both managers will be pleased with the ambition shown by their players.

Boro full-back Ryan Fredericks, who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, is proving to be a constant threat when getting himself into the final third, but on this occasion, his teasing cross was well claimed by Darren Randolph.

Again, Birmingham respond with a flurry of their own. Demerai Gray played the ball through the middle for Clayton Donaldson, but Ben Gibson was able to get back and cut out the danger.

The Blues have won a couple of corners in the past few minutes but nothing came from either of them. They've had the better of proceedings as we edge past the midway point of the first half.

Emilio Nsue thinks he has claims for a penalty after being felled in the penalty area but the referee remained unmoved. At first glance, it appears as though it would have been harsh on the defender if the official had awarded the spot kick.

SHOT! Birmingham midfielder David Davis gets a clean strike in on goal but his effort is comfortably dealt with by Dimi Konstantopoulos. The former Wolves man has only scored once in 30 games for the Blues.

The home side are continuing to apply the pressure but after struggling to mount any kind of attack up the other end of the pitch, Middlesbrough's Lee Tomlin was able to get a shot away from the edge of the penalty area but it was well blocked by a defender.

Birmingham forward Clayton Donaldson is currently down after picking up a knock. The 31-year-old has netted 11 times this season so it would be a major blow for the Blues if they were to lose the former Brentford man.

Play is back underway and Donaldson will continue, but expect several minutes of injury time at the end of the half.

BOOKING! David Cotterill is the first man into the referee's notebook after kicking the ball away after a foul on Emilio Nsue. All a bit unnecessary.

RED CARD! Big blow for Middlesbrough here. Goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos has been dismissed after hauling down Clayton Donaldson inside the penalty area.

SUBSTITUTION! The sending off has forced Aitor Karanka to act fast, with second-choice stopper Tomas Mejias being introduced in place of Jelle Vossen. Can the Spaniard make an immediate impact?

He can't. Birmingham take the lead at St Andrew's after a well-taken spot kick from Paul Caddis, who nets his sixth goal of the season. I wouldn't go as far as saying that the goal had been coming, but it's deserved.

There will be five minutes of added-on time. Middlesbrough need the break.

The half-time whistle goes at St Andrew's and Birmingham hold a 1-0 lead going into the break. You have to say that it's fully deserved, but the difference between the two teams is the incident involving Dimi Konstantopoulos bringing down Clayton Donaldson. Middlesbrough have it all to do after the interval.

The margin didn't seem that wide during the opening 45 minutes but Birmingham have had eight shots on goal compared to Middlesbrough's two. The home side have also had six corners to four from their opponents, but it's Boro who dominate the possession stats with 57% of the ball.

The two teams are beginning to head back out. It will be interesting to see if Karanka has made any changes.

We are back underway.

Ben Gibson has looked a threat from set pieces for Middlesbrough and he's just headed wide from a Grant Leadbitter delivery for the second time tonight. That might be Middlesbrough's best chance of an equaliser.

Birmingham's Jonathan Grounds, who started his career in the North-East with Middlesbrough, has never scored a league goal for the Blues, but he just forced a save out of Tomas Mejias with a header. It was relatively comfortable for the goalkeeper though.

Birmingham mount another attack forward through David Cotterill but he can only shoot high into the stands. There's a bit of movement on the Boro' bench. Will Karanka make another change this early in the half?

We've had a couple of lengthy stoppages already in this match, and there is a third when David Davis goes down with an injury. After treatment though, he is back on his feet and ready to continue.

SUBSTITUTION! Actually, it doesn't appear as Davis is going to see out the remainder of the second half. He has limped off to be replaced by Callum Reilly.

CHANCE! Jonathan Grounds really looks like he wants to get one over his former club. For the second time in the space of 10 minutes, the defender has managed to get an header on goal, but again, Tomas Mejias is equal to it.

SUBSTITUTION! Karanka has thrown on Albert Adomah in place of Emilio Nsue. The African forward didn't do too much during his time on the pitch, and the substitution was probably expected.

DISALLOWED GOAL! That was close for Middlesbrough. Adomah thinks that he has made an instant impact for his team but after firing the ball into the net, the goal is chalked off for offside. It was a nice finish but he appeared to be marginally behind the last defender.

Moments after having claims for a penalty turned down, Middlesbrough are forced onto the back foot but after being set up by Andrew Shinnine, David Cotterill sees yet another chance go off target after shooting wide of the far post from outside of the penalty area. That could have sealed the three points.

With just under 20 minutes to go, this match remains finely poised but Birmingham are having the opportunities to put this game to bed. The longer it remains at 1-0, expect Middlesbrough to pour forward in an attempt to find an equaliser, albeit undeserved.

It hasn't stayed 1-0 for much longer! Middlesbrough have their leveller and it's Patrick Bamford with the goal. After playing a one-two with Grant Leadbitter, the Chelsea loanee made no mistake when given the chance to drive the ball into the bottom corner from six yards. Game on!

At the start of the season, I predicted that whoever loans Patrick Bamford will earn promotion to the Premier League. After netting his 10th in 24 league games, Middlesbrough could be heading to the top of the Championship standings.

We should remember that Birmingham have a man advantage, and since the goal, they are looking to make it count. You could argue that they would be content with a point, but given their position in the table, the pressure is off and they can afford to go for a maximum return.

Grant Leadbitter has been Middlesbrough's main source for creating chances all night and he sets up another for George Friend. However, the defender can't keep his header down and it's a goal kick to the home side.

The momentum has swung the other way again. After withstanding pressure from Birmingham, the visitors are beginning to throw men forward, and Lee Tomlin is unfortunate to see a goal-bound attempt hit a defender and go behind for a corner.

SUBSTITUTION! That's going to be his last involvement though. The former Peterborough United attacker has been replaced by Adam Reach.

The action has slowed down over the past few minutes, but there should be a fair bit of added-on time.

SIX MINUTES! I didn't think that there would be that much. Still time for a winner here.

Albert Adomah concedes a corner to give Birmingham the chance to push players into the box. Nothing comes from it though and Middlesbrough are able to clear after a poor cross into the box.

CHANCE! Birmingham come back at Middlesbrough and mightily close to a late winner through Clayton Donaldson, but he can only head over the crossbar from close range after being set up by Paul Caddis. He'll be disappointed with that.

The full-time whistle goes at St Andrew's and we have new leaders in the Championship table after Middlesbrough, despite playing with 10 men for over 45 minutes, earned the point that they required to move ahead of both Bournemouth and Derby County.

It's a result that probably suits both sides, but Birmingham may feel as though they have missed a chance to cause a surprise against the form team in the division.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again for the Europa League fixtures taking place tomorrow night. Goodbye for now.