This doesn't look too good for Birmingham's Scott Wright. He tries to retrieve a ball forward on the right and twists both his ankle and knee awkwardly, completely unchallenged.

There's a break in play as Wright is still down getting treatment and appears to be in some pain.

Walsall are fast out the blocks.

They get themselves a throw-in in the the final third and midfielder Jamie Jellis slings the ball into the box.

It finds a Morecambe head but can only go out to Ryan Stirk, whose shot whacks off Jamille Matt in the wrong way to go out for a goal kick.

Adam Phillips gets in behind the Rotherham defence for Barnsley and goes down under a challenge in the box by Reece James and wants a penalty, but the ref waves away the claims.

An early booking for Barrow's Conor Mahoney, whose simulation in the Crewe box doesn't impress the referee.

Reading launch a long throw into the box and Ben Davies has taken a bit of a whack during the jostle to win the ball for Birmingham.

He's back on his feet and ready to try and help Blues extend their unbeaten streak to 16 games.

A run of 12 wins and three draws for the visitors coming into today.

Off we go in our four lunchtime kick-offs in League One and League Two.

Plenty at stake at both ends of each table in the next couple of hours...

The players are entering the arena at four grounds around the country in League One and League Two for our early games.

Kick-off is now a matter of minutes away...

Image source, Opta

Noel Hunt makes just one change to his Reading side that beat Rotherham last weekend.

Mamadi Camara comes in for Jayden Wareham, who is among the subs, and Amadou Mbenge will make his 100th appearance for the Royals.

Adrian Akande is back in the squad for the first time since 1 December after recovering from injury and takes a spot on the bench.

Image source, Opta

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies makes three alterations from their 2-1 EFL Trophy semi-final success over Bradford in midweek.

Ethan Laird and Keshi Anderson return to the starting XI, as does Lyndon Dykes, whose goal took Blues to Wembley on Tuesday.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Willum Willumsson drop to the bench while Jay Stansfield is out after being stretchered off against the Bantams.

Image source, Opta

Rotherham boss Steve Evans makes just one change for the South Yorkshire derby from the 2-1 defeat at Reading last time out

Mallik Wilks comes in for Cameron Humphreys, who is not in the matchday squad due to illness.

Darrell Clarke makes two changes for Barnsley from their 2-1 loss at home to Huddersfield last weekend.

Luca Connell and Adam Phillips return for the Tykes, while Clement Rodrigues drops to the bench and Donovan Pines is out altogether.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

A couple of changes for both sides in the Cheshire sunshine today.

Crewe Alexandra bring back Jamie Knight-Lebel after his one-game suspension, and he's in for the now-suspended Ryan Cooney after the defenders dismissal at Gillingham last weekend.

Adrien Thibaut also starts in place of Shilow Tracey for Lee Bell's side.

Andy Whing also makes two changes from last time out for Barrow bringing Theo Vassell back into the backline in place of Sam Foley.

Up front, Kian Spence drops to the bench as Conor Mahoney gets the nod.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Morecambe keeper Ryan Schofield doesn't make the matchday squad after being substituted off last time out.

Harry Burgoyne dons the gloves for today's match, while captain Yann Songo'o also rejoins the starting XI as part of the Shrimps four changes.

Lee Angol and Max Taylor are the other two names added to the line-up.

Jamie Stott, Gerard Garner and Callum Cooke are all available from the bench.

Oisin McEntee and Brandon Comley start for Walsall as their two changes.

Harry Williams is on the bench but Charlie Lakin misses out on the trip due to illness.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Rex Features

Birmingham City are well on track to win the League One title and return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Blues are six points clear with two games in hand and unbeaten in their past 15 games, winning 12 and drawing three of those.

They visit a Reading side whose play-off push stuttered in January but has gained a bit more momentum in recent weeks with a four-game unbeaten run (W2 D2).

The Royals are four points off the top six and boast an impressive home record this season, winning 11 of their 15 games at the Select Car Leasing Stadium (D1 L3).

Reading will need to lean fully into that to pick up a result against a rampant Birmingham side today.

Image source, Rex Features

16 October 1982. That’s the last time Rotherham beat their South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley at a game of football.

Since then, these two sides have met 12 times in all competitions and ended all square on three occasions, while the Tykes have won nine, including the past five.

Barnsley ran out 2-0 winners at Oakwell in November and another victory today would put them within seven points of the play-off spots before the 15:00 GMT fixtures.

But to do so, Darrell Clarke’s side will need to end a run of six games without a win in which they’ve picked up just one point and lost the other five.

The Millers have been experiencing similar struggles in recent weeks, failing to win any of their previous four games (D1 L3).

Perhaps something will give for one of them in the derby today?

Birmingham City could open up a huge nine-point lead at the top of League One before the chasing pack play at 15:00 GMT if they win at Reading.

Victory for the Royals could apply pressure to Leyton Orient in sixth ahead of their trip to Bolton, while Barnsley will be hoping to nudge themselves up to 10th against Rotherham, who are closer to the drop than they are the play-off spots.

Image source, Getty Images

Is there ever a good time for a bottom side to play the league leaders?

Well, maybe two weeks ago when Walsall were in their sticky spell and on a winless run but times have changed.

The Saddlers finally took all three points last time out in a 3-1 win over Chesterfield and will be glad to see the back of a tricky period.

"You're always going to have blips and it's difficult to put your finger on it," Walsall midfielder Charlie Lakin told BBC Radio WM.

"We've got a brilliant squad and we've proved that whoever's doubting us out there, we can take that on the chin and go out there and prove them wrong."

But one win doesn't ease all concerns and if they are unable to conquer the relegation-threatened Morecambe today, then Walsall's wobbling will give those below some real hope of toppling them off the top of the table in the weeks to come.

Rewind nine games to the start of the year and it was full steam ahead for Lee Bell's Railywaymen, who were the closest challengers to runaway leaders Walsall at the top of League Two.

A run of just one win in their last eight - including back to back 3-0 defeats to Wimbledon and Newport - however, has seen hopes of automatic promotion hit the buffers somewhat, though a win today could put them back within three points of the top three, having been a firm fixture of the play-off picture since September.

It was a case of 'all change' at Barrow in January when Solihull Moors boss Andy Whing landed in the EFL to take control of the Holker Street side, replacing Stephan Clemence.

Convincing 3-0 wins over Grimsby and Gillingham have been the highlights, but they remain the only two victories in 2025 for the Cumbrians, who also haven't won on the road since mid-September.

Inflicting a third home defeat in four on the Alex could move Barrow firmly into mid-table come the close of play tonight, and derail the hosts promotion push yet further.

Walsall will have a chance to further ease some of the pressure that's been applied in recent weeks and put themselves 10 points clear at the top with a win at second-bottom Morecambe.

Crewe are also in action at lunchtime and will be hoping to revitalise their promotion push when they welcome 18th-placed Barrow.

Image source, Rex Features

This is what's coming up in League One today:

• Reading v Birmingham (12:30 GMT)
• Rotherham v Barnsley (12:30)
• Blackpool v Crawley
• Bolton v Leyton Orient
• Cambridge v Stockport
• Charlton v Exeter
• Huddersfield v Peterborough
• Lincoln v Burton Albion
• Northampton v Bristol Rovers
• Shrewsbury v Stevenage
• Wycombe v Wigan

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a look at what's on the League Two agenda this afternoon:

• Crewe v Barrow (12:30 GMT)
• Morecambe v Walsall (12:30)
• Accrington v Doncaster
• Bradford v MK Dons
• Bromley v Harrogate
• Carlisle v Gillingham
• Colchester v AFC Wimbledon
• Grimsby v Fleetwood
• Newport v Cheltenham
• Notts County v Tranmere
• Port Vale v Salford
• Swindon v Chesterfield

Image source, Rex Features

Good afternoon!

The games keep on coming thick and fast but you just cannot beat a proper football day, can you?

Saturday is action packed with 15:00 GMT kick-offs aplenty. We've got four games at lunchtime to more than whet the appetite before then.

We'll be starting in the battle for automatic promotion in both League One and League Two shortly with respective leaders Birmingham City and Walsall in action at lunchtime.

Time to get going...