Robbie Savage
Ex-Wales midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

It's important that you don't lose now. Both teams are going for the winner.

You don't want to be the person that makes the mistake that costs your side, but you want to be the hero to win your side the game.

Gabby Agbonlahor is involved immediately as he drives at the Birmingham defence and plays the ball to Ross McCormack, whose shot is blocked behind for a corner.

McCormack goes over to take it and Jonathan Kodjia heads it just wide of the post. This game is certainly nowhere near over.

Well, hello there.

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce makes a big call to bring on Gabby Agbonlahor for his first action since March. He replaces Jordan Ayew.

Image source, Getty Images

Robbie Savage
Ex-Wales midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

Donaldson's got to score. He's caught it sweetly but he's dragged it wide.

If they don't get something from this game, they will rue these chances they keep missing.

Image source, Rex Features

So nearly 2-1 to Birmingham.

A long ball into the Villa area is nodded down to Clayton Donaldson on the edge of the six-yard box, but he can't control his volley at goal and it goes inches wide of the post.

That David Davis goal, his third of the season, has cranked up the volume level in St Andrew's to 11.

Aston Villa think they are through with Jonathan Kodjia, but he is deemed offside.

Robbie Savage
Ex-Wales midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

Thoroughly deserved on the balance of play. We thought David Davis would come off, but Gary Rowett took off Maikel Kieftenbeld and put Davis inside.

What a great last 20 minutes we're going to get here.

Gary Rowett fancies a bit of creativity in the middle of the park it seems, so takes off Maikel Kieftenbeld in place of David Cotterill, a man who can change games in an instant.

The size advantage is something Birmingham clearly want as Maikel Kieftenbeld manages to get a shot away off a long throw into the area, but it hits his own team-mate Lukas Jutkiewicz.

It's all Birmingham right now.

Robbie Savage
Ex-Wales midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

He's looking well, Steve Bruce. He's gone for the side parting, he's had his hair cut.

The tracksuit still looks a bit tight, though.

Image source, Rex Features

Nice banter from Robbie, who played under Bruce at Blues.

Change of tact from Birmingham City as off comes Che Adams and on comes big man Lukas Jutkiewicz. That's two relatively sizeable blokes up front for the hosts now...

Meanwhile, Villa swing in a low corner which comes to nothing.

Birmingham midfielder Stephen Gleeson is the next man to be left on the floor needing treatment in this match, as Jordan Ayew receives a yellow for a late tackle on him. It wasn't cynical, just late.

If we had five minutes of added time in the first half, what could we have in the second?

Birmingham are probing and pressing but can't seem to find that killer ball to slice through a sturdy Villa defence.

Then Birmingham's Maikel Kieftenbeld provides us with a moment of comedy, with a total miskick of the ball out for a throw in, which wouldn't have looked out of place on the fields of Moseley or Edgbaston this morning.

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce manages a little chuckle.

Phil Maiden
BBC Sport at St Andrew's

No surprises that it's Birmingham's highest home attendance of the season so far. There are 25,696 inside St Andrew's today and they are not yet giving up hope that their side can turn this around.

Despite the early kick-off time, this is a proper derby atmosphere.

Image source, Rex Features

If Aston Villa feel the need to turn that proverbial screw, they could turn to Gabby Agbonlahor, in the matchday squad for the first time since March.

At the moment, Villa's forwards are struggling to get hold of the ball for any amount of time.

Image source, PA

Jacques Maghoma is looking really, really up for this match.

The winger steams forward over the halfway line but is brought down cynically by Ashley Westwood, who earns a booking for his troubles.

Robbie Savage
Ex-Wales midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

Alan Hutton did so well to recover the mistake. He just got back as Jacques Maghoma was going to strike it and he couldn't get back up to his feet.

He's got to score there. It should have been the equaliser.

Image source, Getty Images

What a chance for Birmingham City's Jacques Maghoma.

The winger breaks through the Villa line, but Alan Hutton does enough to prevent Maghoma from getting a clean shot away when one-on-one with the keeper and Villa eventually pick up the pieces.

That has lifted the Blues fans at St Andrew's.

Ryan Shotton left Jonathan Kodjia needing treatment foillowing an aerial duel in the first half, and he's done it in the second period as well.

The Villa forward looks a little sore to say the least, but it looked like a fair challenge.

Image source, Rex Features