Rudy Gestede goal gives Villa victory
Villa into fourth round of League Cup
Jacques Maghoma misses best chance for Blues
121st second city derby
Martin O'Connor
former Birmingham captain on BBC WM 95.6
Quote MessageVilla have started with a much better tempo. Birmingham need to let the Villa centre halves have more of the ball and make sure their midfielders can't get on the ball as easily."
Birmingham City get forward with Jacques Maghoma but his low cross can't find Clayton Donaldson. Villa are the happier team at the moment.
Villa's Scott Sinclair heads wide. He was leaning back a bit too much to direct that towards goal. But it was a decent ball in from Jordan Veretout. Villa are building some pressure here.
Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live
Quote MessageGrealish has only been on for three of four minutes and he's already had more touches of the ball than most of the Villa midfielders had in the first half."
Villa do look better since Jack Grealish has come in in midfield. He whips the ball in towards Rudy Gestede but he fires over. Aston Villa have been awarded a corner though. Did that touch any Birmingham players? Blues don't think so. The corner is cleared, however.
Brian Little
ex-Aston Villa player & manager on BBC WM 95.6
Quote MessageFor the first time in the game Birmingham are being a little bit stretched. Villa aren't so compact up front this half."
So how are the nerves Villa/Blues fans?
Who's going to come out on top in this second city derby?
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Aston Villa win the first corner of the second half but the cross comes to nothing.
Birmingham win an early free-kick wide on their left but Demarai Gray hits it too close to Brad Guzan.
Martin O'Connor
former Birmingham captain on BBC WM 95.6
Quote MessageIt'll be interesting to see who picks Grealish up after that change. Centre halves won't want to step out and midfielders won't want to sink too deep."
Aston Villa 0-0 Birmingham City
Villa get this game re-started. I get the sense that the first goal will be really, really crucial.
Aston Villa 0-0 Birmingham City
Villa make a double change at the break, with Jack Grealish and Jordan Ayew coming on for Gabby Agbonlahor, who definitely had a knock, and Joleon Lescott.
Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live
Quote MessageVilla have been poor. Birmingham have been so comfortable in possession. Gleeson is winning the midfield battle against Westwood."
So far, this game has had the feel of a derby that could be decided by just a single goal, a single mistake, or a single decision. There is very little in it.
It is worth reminding you at this stage that we will definitely have a result tonight - this game will go to extra-time, and even penalties, if needed.
We may be short on goals at Villa Park, but there's been plenty of action elsewhere in the third round of the League Cup.
I'll start at the Stadium of Light where Manchester City are 4-0 up against Sunderland. It doesn't get any better for Dick Advocaat does it?
In the other all Premier League tie at the King Power Stadium it's 1-1 between Leicester and West Ham.
Championship side Hull are beating Swansea 1-0, Bournemouth are 1-0 up at Preston and Stoke are also leading by a single goal at Fulham.
Middlesbrough are 1-0 up against fellow Championship side Wolves and Nick Blackman has just put Reading 1-0 up against Everton in our only 20:00 BST kick-off.
Click here for live text commentary of the other League Cup ties.
Deepak Mahay
BBC Sport at Villa Park
Quote MessageBoos at half time from the Villa fans. The Blues fans are happy.
Aston Villa 0-0 Birmingham City
Image source, Getty ImagesSo no goals in the first 45 minutes at Villa Park. Birmingham will be the happier side at the break. Can Villa improve in the second half?
Leandro Bacuna takes the free-kick but his shot flies high and wide of the goal, cue ironic cheers from the Birmingham fans.
A foul by Maikel Kieftenbeld on Ciaran Clark gives Villa a free-kick about 30 yards from goal. We are just into two minutes of added time.