Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship encounter between Leicester City and Birmingham City.
A victory for Leicester at the King Power Stadium will see the hosts move into the playoff zone before their promotion rivals play tomorrow.
Birmingham are unlikely to be dragged into the relegation battle at this stage of the season but Lee Clark's side can climb to 10th position with three points tonight.
Please note, kickoff is at 7.45pm.
Hello to everyone joining me tonight for this intriguing Championship clash. The playoffs are quickly approaching and tonight's game is a crucial one in Leicester's promotion bid.
We'll begin with tonight's team news.
LEICESTER: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan (c), Keane, Konchesky, King, James, Drinkwater, Nugent, Wood, Schlupp
BIRMINGHAM: Butland, Caddis, Davies (C), Robinson, Hancox, Redmond, Elliott, Gomis, Morrison, Ferguson, Zigic
LEICESTER SUBS: Marshall, Vardy, Dyer, Logan, Moore, Knockaert, Kane
BIRMINGHAM SUBS: Doyle, Caldwell, Mullins, Reilly, Burke, Lovenkrands, Thomas
The big news for Leicester is that Chris Wood returns to the starting lineup. If the New Zealand striker has his shooting boots on, it could be a difficult night for Birmingham.
Birmingham look very safe in the middle of the table but Clark will be desperate for his inconsistent side to end the season on a high and derail Leicester's promotion bid in the process.
The advantage of playing tonight is that Leicester can pile the pressure on the teams around them with a win. Bolton, who sit just below Leicester in the table, travel to Bristol City on Saturday while Brighton, currently sitting in sixth, face a tricky trip to Middlesbrough.
Nottingham Forest have performed superbly to climb into fifth but they'll also be wary of Leicester, if the Foxes can collect three points tonight.
Despite currently lying 13th in the Championship, Birmingham are still only six points above the relegation zone. However, with so many teams below them in the table, Clark will feel that his side are safe. A victory would make sure of that.
"The players have been very focused this week and upbeat," Pearson has just told Sky Sports News. "Tonight gives us a good opportunity to make progress again, against a side who have made great progress over the last couple of months."
We're just under five minutes away from kickoff so it's prediction time. Birmingham will test the Foxes tonight but I fancy Leicester to just edge it - Leicester 2-1 Birmingham
The Leicester supporters are in full force as the two teams come out of the tunnel. We're ready to begin.
Schlupp finds some space on the right wing but his cross is easily cleared to give Leicester a corner. Zigic comes back to help out his defence to head away.
Birmingham enjoy a good spell of possession on the left-hand side of midfield but Leicester are well organised and put an end to the promising move.
A smart bit of trickery from Redmond allows him to deliver the ball towards Ferguson, who fires the ball across the area but Elliot can't direct his header towards goal.
The hosts are yet to settle down in midfield and they're struggling to use Nugent and Wood, who has started on the right.
Nugent drives at the Birmingham defence for the first time but his pass to Konchesky is short, allowing the visitors to clear.
Neither side have created a clear chance yet but they both seem eager to attack early on.
There's a nervy moment in the Birmingham defence, with Leicester threatening to break through but Davies steps in to end the threat. The visitors counter but Zigic can't get good contact on his header, with Schmeichel punching the ball clear.
CHANCE! Nugent picks up the ball from distance but his low shot is kept out by Butland.
GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Birmingham (Davies OG)
Leicester win a corner from Nugent's shot and they make the breakthrough when Davies heads into his own net while under pressure from Morgan. Extraordinary own goal but Leicester won't mind.
Birmingham's response to the goal is to adopt a more direct approach but Morgan does brilliantly to prevent Zigic from collecting a long ball.
Konchesky is put under pressure when Redmond threatens to break into the penalty area but the England international quickly fires the ball out for a throw-in
Clark's side haven't panicked yet and enjoy a spell of possession just outside the Leicester box but at the moment, there just seems to be no way through.
Konchesky attacks at pace on the left but his cross is misdirected and Davies easily clears. I imagine he wished he could have done that a few minutes ago.
Morgan chips a deep pass towards Nugent but the striker is too far out to cause Butland any problems with his header.
CHANCE! Robinson panics underneath a bouncing ball and his header is well short of Butland. However, the Birmingham goalkeeper reacts superbly to block Schlupp's effort before collecting another shot from the forward just moments later. Big let-off for the visitors.
CHANCE! Keane looks destined to double his side's lead from another corner but he sends a free header over the crossbar from eight yards out.
Birmingham are still getting plenty of the ball but they look nervous in defence as Leicester look to add a second.
CHANCE! King sprints past Robinson but his weak effort is easily saved by Butland. Birmingham immediately launch a counter-attack, with Schmeichel being forced into a good save from Redmond.
CHANCE! Redmond is once again given too much room and he tests Schmeichel, who superbly tips the ball wide. The following corner falls to Robinson at the back post but he is the latest player to be denied by a great save as Schmeichel keeps the volley out with his legs.
Pearson will be concerned by Leicester's inability to take their chances since the opening goal. Birmingham still look a threat and they win a free kick on the left side of midfield.
Ferguson predictably directs the cross towards Zigic but his header is deflected over the crossbar for a corner. Gomis attempts a volley from the following set piece but Schmeichel easily gathers the ball.
Leicester win a free kick in midfield but Davies heads the deep cross away. The hosts are controlling possession at the moment.
Drinkwater delivers a brilliant cross from the right but Nugent completely misses the ball with an attempted header and Schlupp fails to take a chance at the back post.
CHANCE! Nugent collects the ball in space just inside the box but he fires a low effort wide. Leicester may regret missing these chances.
The rain begins to pour down as Birmingham launch an attack but Redmond's appeals for a free kick are rejected when Drinkwater dispossesses him and Leicester clear.
De Laet beats two Birmingham defenders on the right wing and wins a corner with a low cross. The ball drops to Morgan inside the box but the referee punishes the central defender for a push before he can unleash a shot.
There's a bit of a quiet period in the game as half time approaches. Leicester are still in control but Pearson won't be happy with the opportunities they've wasted.
Schlupp drills a shot wide from just outside the box but he is fouled by Robinson in the process and wins a free kick for his side.
Wood fires the free kick straight at the wall and Birmingham are able to relieve the pressure when Zigic is fouled by Nugent.
Leicester attack the Birmingham defence for one final time in the first period but a foul from Schlupp ends the move and the referee blows for half time.
So, as things stand Leicester will be moving back into the playoff positions tonight. However, fans of the Foxes will be worried that they haven't added to the early own goal from Davies.
Birmingham will fancy their chances of snatching a positive result. Clark's men have looked dangerous at times and would be level had it not been for Schmeichel's impeccable performance in goal.
You get the feeling that if this game was being played earlier in the season, Leicester would probably have taken more of their chances in the first half. A slightly less confident team have looked nervous in front of goal but they still lead.
It will be interesting to see when Clark looks to his bench to make an impact. At the moment he'll be quite content but he cannot afford to let Leicester double their lead.
We're almost ready to begin again at the King Power Stadium. The players are back out of the dressing rooms. Can Birmingham find a way back into this game? Will Leicester climb into the playoff spots again? Let's find out.
Zigic holds the ball up well on the edge of the box to keep a Birmingham move flowing but the visitors can't force a way through and Leicester have a goal kick.
Gomis starts another spell of Birmingham possession but Zigic isn't offering any opportunities to get behind the Leicester defence and the hosts easily deal with the minimal threat.
Leicester break forward but Schlupp, who has options either side of him, sends a shot harmlessly wide of Butland's goal.
Wood turns beautifully on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful shot. There's small appeals for handball when the effort strikes Davies but the referee correctly waves away the protests.
Ferguson delivers a dangerous ball into the box but Elliot arrives too early and miscues his header. Good start to the second half from Birmingham.
Chance! Schlupp exchanges passes with Nugent before advancing towards goal but Davies comes across to block the forward's effort.
Chance! So close to an equaliser for Birmingham! Redmond dances his way past two Leicester players before picking out Elliot, who is inches away from finding the top corner with a curled effort.
Birmingham keep the ball very well on the edge of the box but the attack comes to an end when Redmond drills an effort straight at Morgan inside the box.
There's jeers when Nugent goes down under a challenge from Morrison on the edge of the box and the referee decides against giving the striker a free kick. A replay proves that it was a very good decision.
Goal! Leicester 1-1 Birmingham (Zigic)
Superb equaliser from the side wearing pink at the King Power Stadium. Morrison releases Caddis inside the box and he delivers an inch-perfect cross to Zigic, who easily taps in from inside the six yard box. Game on!
Chance! Leicester are inches away from regaining the lead as King finds Schlupp, who smashes the ball against the crossbar with only Butland to beat.
Chance! Morgan somehow finds himself in the corner of the pitch but his attempts to beat a couple of defenders are unsuccessful. Leicester quickly win the ball back and a cross is sent in to the box but Keane heads over.
De Laet looks assured in defence as he catches Ferguson, who looked like he'd be in on goal, before clearing the danger.
Chance! the chances keep on coming for Schlupp but once again he fails to take advantage as he waits too long to take a shot, allowing Robinson to produce a superb tackle to save his side.
Leicester make their first change of the game as Lloyd Dyer comes on to replace Drinkwater.
Dyer almost has an immediate impact as he races past a defender before delivering a dangerous cross but Leicester's forwards fail to react in time.
Morrison shows why he is so highly rated as he creates some room for himself just outside the area before striking the side netting with a low shot.
Birmingham give Dyer too much room 25 yards from goal but the substitute looks off balance as his half volley flies wide of the target.
Leicester launch the ball into the box and King is unlucky not to create a chance but it won't drop for the midfielder, with a corner the end result.
Goal! Leicester 2-1 Birmingham (Schlupp)
Finally, Schlupp finds the goal he's been threatening to score all night. The forward rises highest from the corner and his bullet header is past Butland before he knows it. That could be a big goal for Pearson's side, can they hold on?
Clark responds to the goal by sending on Wes Thomas to replace Elliot.
Birmingham once again adopt the direct route to goal but Morgan looks assured in defence as he wins the first ball before being fouled by Thomas.
Schlupp drifts out to the right wing and finds Wood on the edge of the box but the former West Brom forward pokes his shot well wide.
Davies shows his class in defence as he perfectly times a sliding tackle to dispossess De Laet on the right side of the box.
Leicester win another corner as Konchesky's cross is tipped behind by Butland.
Birmingham struggle to clear the corner but they eventually end the Leicester threat when Davies smashes the ball into row z.
Chris Burke is on for Birmingham, replacing Ferguson.
Yellow card! Dyer's pace is clearly a concern for Davies, who fouls the substitute. The central defender is booked but a replay proves that it's a slightly harsh decision.
Butland comes out of his goal to claim a goal but his mistake offers Nugent a chance to add a third. However, Robinson is once again alert to make a crucial block.
Leicester's nerves are beginning to show as King is lucky not to score an own goal when he miscues a clearance. The following corner is then headed wide by Davies.
Leicester make another change as on-loan striker Harry Kane replaces Wood.
Leicester know how close they are to claiming three crucial points but they've retreated slightly and Birmingham could take advantage.
Penalty! Nugent can't get control of the ball and runs into his own box before colliding with Thomas. The referee wastes no time in pointing to the spot.
Goal! Leicester 2-2 Birmingham (Burke)
Schmeichel guesses right but Burker's low penalty is too powerful and Birmingham look they will snatch a point. Nugent hangs his head in shame but replays suggest that the foul may have taken place just outside the box.
Schlupp still has time to fire one more effort at goal but his shot is weak and Butland makes an easy save. One more minute of added time left.
Leicester attempt to test the Birmingham defence one final time but the visitors hold firm and the referee brings the match to a close. What a disappointing result for Pearson's side.
Leicester seem to be trying their best to avoid the playoffs lately. The hosts have missed an opportunity to move to fifth in the Championship and it'll be tough to recover from this result.
It's important not to take anything away from Birmingham tonight. The visitors twice went behind but they showed great character to snatch a point following Nugent's mistake.
That's it for tonight but thanks for joining me for that fascinating contest, goodnight everyone.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
