Southend are having the better of the early stages at Roots Hall.

Dave Mooney blazes a volley over the bar, before David Worrall's cross flies just over.

Birmingham 0-0 Cardiffpublished at 7 mins

7 mins

Sean Morrison has running repairs on a knock and is hopping about after getting treatment.

The visitors might be forced into an early change.

At the other end, Tony Watt finds Anthony Pilkington with a neat chipped ball to the far post.

Rather than go straight for goal, Pilkington tries to find Kenwyne Jones. With that, the danger is cleared by captain Michael Morrison for Blues.

First corner of the game goes Birmingham City's way.

The ball is swung in from the left, but headed away with no trouble at the near post. Looked like a little push and shove in there as well for the corner, maybe there was something there for Blues.

Not a huge atmosphere at St Andrew's it must be said.

Cardiff City look threatening early on with a counter attack but an attempted low cross from Tony Watt is easily dealt with by Birmingham's defence.

And we are under way, Cardiff City kicking proceedings off.

The teams are also out at Roots Hall.

It is a mild night in the Midlands, with a fresh 12C greeting players as they emerge from the tunnel at St Andrew's.

Birmingham City are in their traditional blue, with the white sash. 

Visitors Cardiff are playing in their alternate red kit.

It is all very festive in Birmingham. Santa has been spotted around the ground sporting blue tonight, and Bluebird supporters of Cardiff looking all elf like in their blue club jumpers.

Can Birmingham City get back to winning ways, fancy Cardiff City's chances of moving into the play-off places?

Southend and Bury fans, can your side make it two successive promotions?

If you have got an opinion on tonight's festive action at St Andrew's or Roots Hall or want to tell us what you think about having Championship football on the menu every night of the week, then share your thoughts by using #bbcfootball on Twitter.

We'll publish selected comments throughout tonight's live text commentary.

Cardiff boss Russell Slade told BBC Radio Wales:

"It's a big period for us and for most clubs in that top 10-11, because it is very tight.

"Anybody that can put a run together, create a little bit of momentum, with three or four wins on the bounce, are going to find themselves in a really good position in the new year.

Image source, Rex Features

"We go into the Birmingham game now hoping to pick up more points. They (Birmingham ) will be looking for a win because they've not got one in three or four games now, and they've not scored so many goals.

"So Gary will have them organised. He'll have them at it. It is always a tough place to go."

Image source, Getty Images

Poor form. No worries, according to Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett.

While Blues have picked up just one win from their past nine matches, the fact that they remain within touching distance of the play-off places heading into Christmas is the source of some joy for Rowett.

Talking to BBC WM 95.6, Rowett said: "I see that as a positive in a way, because I think to myself if we can just come out of this little run – not necessarily in terms of our performances, but in terms of our overall points and results – then we can kick again."

Unfortunately a rights issue prevents us from streaming our BBC radio commentaries online. But if you're in the West Midlands or Cardiff area, you can tune into BBC WM 95.6 or BBC Radio Wales Sport for commentary of Birmingham v Cardiff.

Or tune into BBC Essex or BBC Radio Manchester for commentary of Southend against Bury.

And here's the line-ups from Roots Hall...

Southend: Bentley, White (c), Coker, Thompson, Worrall, Mooney, Payne, Atkinson, Hunt, Leonard, Barrett.

Subs: Prosser, Timlin, Hurst, Rea, Deegan, Pigott, O'Neill.

Bury: Bachmann, Riley, Hussey, Clarke, Etuhu, Mayor, Soares, Pugh, Cameron (c), Rose, Clarke.

Subs: Lainton, Dodoo, Mellis, Pope, Brown, Jones, Dudley.

Image source, BBC Sport

Gary Rowett seems to have gone some way to stopping Birmingham City's recent slump in form, with his side ending a run of three defeats with a commendable draw against high-flying Middlesbrough and another point at Preston on Tuesday that lifted them to eighth in the table. Blues last win was in the incredible 5-2 goalfest at Fulham which saw the Cottagers' sack Kit Symons as manager afterwards.

In the meantime, Russell Slade's Cardiff City have been erratic to say the least, winning three of their last seven, drawing two and losing the other two.

Tuesday's nail-biting 3-2 win over Brentford highlighted the side's backbone for a fight, according to Slade.

Russell Slade makes two changes to his Cardiff City side which beat Brentford 3-2 on Tuesday.

Scott Malone comes in for Fabio at left back and Sammy Ameobi replaces Craig Noone on the right wing.

Substitutes: Moore, Fabio, Manga, Whittingham, O'Keefe, Noone, Mason.

A few changes forBirmingham Citytonight with Australian Shane Lowry making his debut, slotting in at left back to replace the injured Jonathan Grounds.

In the centre of the pitch, Jon Toral takes over from Andrew Shinnie as boss Gary Rowett goes for a 4-5-1 formation that sees James Vaughan fly solo up front.

Image source, BBC Sport

Substitutes:Legzdins, Solomon-Otabor, Shinnie, Davis, Caddis, Brock-Madsen, Halford

We've also got one fixture in League One this evening as Southend United take on Bury at Roots Hall.

Phil Brown's Shrimpers have not played a game since 28 November after last weekend's match at Bradford was postponed and they were knocked out of the FA Cup first round by Scunthorpe.

Bury, who were promoted alongside Southend from League Two last season, have got off to a fine start and sit just a point outside the play-offs, while the Blues are two points behind in ninth and unbeaten in six.

We'll have regular updates from the game throughout this evening.

Image source, Rex Features

Sunday, Monday, Happy Days,

Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days,

Thursday, Friday, Happy Days,

The weekend comes, the Championship motors along, 

And BBC live text commentaries keep coming for you...

Image source, Empics

Yeah, fair enough, I've butchered the theme song to Happy Days and anointed Gary Rowett as the Fonz of St Andrew's to make a point. (And yes, I'm aware there was no Championship football last Sunday and that it is all a stretch).

Either way, after five nights of football and ahead of another action packed weekend, how can you not break into song when it is Birmingham City up against Cardiff City at St Andrew's?