Image source, Empics

His team could end the day top of the Championship table, but Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett knows much of the attention will be on Birmingham and their new manager Gary Rowett today.

Wanderers are level on points with the division's leaders and are strong favourites to win against struggling Blues at Molineux, with Jackett keen to ensure his players are focused on the task ahead.

"Obviously they'll be galvanised and it's a local derby, but what we've concentrated on is Wolves," he told BBC WM 95.6. "We want to be as fit, as well prepared, as organised and as enthusiastic as we possibly can."

A couple of former Birmingham City players have been lending their support to new manager Gary Rowett on Twitter this morning:

Derby's ex-Blues goalkeeper Jack Butland:, external "I hope today can be the start of better things for Blues, no better way to start than in a derby."

West Bromwich Albion's ex-Blues midfielder Craig Gardner:, external "Good luck to the Blues today. New manager, new start."

Image source, Empics

New Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett is hoping his players can bounce back quickly from last weekend's 8-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.

The 40-year-old takes charge of second-bottom Blues for the first time today and, understandably, he is expecting a better showing from his side.

Rowett told BBC WM 95.6: "We've got three games before the international break. It's going to be about getting some results in these three games, and trying to impart a small fraction of what we want to do straight away.

"But the main thing is seeing a reaction. Let's see which players react, in a really positive way, to what we've been trying to do in the last few days."

Image source, Getty Images

Last night, two goals from ex-Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome earned Norwich City a 2-1 home win over Bolton Wanderers at Carrow Road.

The Canaries jumped above Wolves up to third in the table, while Bolton remain in the bottom three, level on points with Blues.

There are 11 Championship fixtures today - I'm sure many Birmingham fans will be keeping an eye on Blackpool's game with Ipswich later, as their former manager Lee Clark takes charge of the division's bottom club for the first time.

Click here for today's full fixture list.

You can see every goal from this weekend's games on the Football League Show at 23:45 GMT this evening. The programme is repeated at 09:00 GMT on Sunday and available for the rest of the week on the BBC iPlayer.

Image source, Empics

Wolves will go top of the Championship, for a few hours at least, if they avoid defeat at Molineux today.

After storming to the League One title last term, Kenny Jackett's side were widely tipped to challenge for promotion again this season and they have not disappointed thus far.

Leon Clarke, who starts today, netted their late winner in a 2-1 victory at Leeds last Saturday, which took them level on points with leaders Derby County.

Martin O'Connor
Ex-Birmingham captain and BBC WM summariser

"I think he (Gary Rowett) is an organised manager and I think he's a modern manager. He was definitely a model professional when I played with him at Blues. Even though he wasn't the captain, he wasn't scared to pick people out in team meetings.

"Last week has gone. You have to take that and move on. For me, this is the start of a new season for Birmingham."

Mel Eves
Ex-Wolves striker and BBC WM summariser

"I can see where Gary Rowett is coming from with that team. He's gone for solidity. He's brought in a new defender in Michael Morrison, who brings a lot of experience. But in these kind of games, you need people who are going to run with energy. For me, Stephen Gleeson is not one of those kind of players."

Image source, Getty Images

Supporters of Wolves and Birmingham may not consider one another as their fiercest of rivals, but make no mistake, these two don't like each other very much.

Fixtures between the two over the past few years have often been feisty affairs and full of drama.

We've been taking a look back at some memorable derby days from yesteryear.

BBC WM 95.6 are providing full match commentary of today's game from Molineux, which is also being simulcast on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

Paul Franks and Mike Taylor are joined by former Wolves striker Mel Eves and ex-Birmingham City captain Martin O'Connor.

At the final whistle, have your say on the big match with BBC WM 95.6 by calling 03453 009956.

Who will end the afternoon with the local bragging rights? Will Wolves miss Nouha Dicko up front? And have Blues picked the right manager in Gary Rowett?

And if you're at Molineux, why not tweet from your seat and send us a selfie?

Text 81333 and start your message with WM or tweet using #wmfootball and we'll use the best of your views here.

Please remember to put your name on any texts!

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham City have turned to their former defender Gary Rowett to arrest a slide that has seen them drop to second from bottom of the Championship.

The 40-year-old, who replaced Lee Clark as manager on Monday, spent two years as a player at St Andrew's and scored 12 goals in 106 appearances before leaving to join Leicester City in July 2000.

After two and a half successful years in charge of Burton Albion, a club he twice led to the League Two play-offs, Rowett takes over a Birmingham side struggling in the second tier and still smarting from last weekend's club-record 8-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.

As Yazz and the Plastic Population once sang: "The only way is up, baby..."

Wolves: Carl Ikeme, Matt Doherty, Danny Batth (c), Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Tommy Rowe, James Henry, Kevin McDonald, Lee Evans, Michael Jacobs, Leon Clarke, Liam McAlinden.

Subs: Jon Flatt, Dave Edwards, Richard Stearman, George Saville, Bakary Sako, Yannick Sagbo, Rajiv van La Parra.

Birmingham City: Darren Randolph, Paul Caddis, Michael Morrison, Paul Robinson (c), Jonathan Grounds, Stephen Gleeson, Andrew Shinnie, David Davis, David Cotterill, Clayton Donaldson, Koby Arthur.

Subs: Colin Doyle, Grant Hall, Neal Eardley, Callum Reilly, Reece Brown, Brek Shea, Wes Thomas.

Image source, Empics

The headline team news from Molineux is that Bakary Sako is on the bench for Wolves. The Mali international winger, the home side's top scorer this season with seven goals, missed last weekend's win at Leeds with a groin problem. Nouha Dicko is out injured, so Leon Clarke starts up front alongside Liam McAlinden, who was recalled from his loan spell at Fleetwood earlier this week.

For visitors Birmingham, Gary Rowett's first team selection as manager shows four changes to the starting line-up. David Edgar is suspended after his red card against Bournemouth last time out, so Michael Morrison starts in defence after joining on loan from Charlton yesterday. Ex-Wolves midfielders David Davis and Stephen Gleeson start against their former club.

In football, certain situations can provide great levellers, and Birmingham have some of those in their favour today.

The desire to bounce back from a horrible home defeat - tick. A new manager taking charge for the first time - tick. Facing one of your local rivals - tick.

Will Gary Rowett make a winning start as Blues boss, and prevent Kenny Jackett's Wolves heading to the top of the Championship table?

Kick-off at Molineux is at 12:15 GMT. Full match commentary is available on BBC WM 95.6 and BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

Molineux and St Andrew's may only be separated by a few junctions of the M6 but the respective starts that Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City have made to the Championship campaign are many miles apart.

Wolves are flying high near the top of the table, maintaining the momentum of last season's promotion...

Image source, Empics

Blues, who only avoided relegation with a goal in stoppage time on the final day of last term, are braced for another battle against the drop...

Image source, Empics

You would think, then, that the result of today's West Midlands derby should be a foregone conclusion. But don't be so sure...