Image source, Getty Images

Tom Ince almost finds Will Hughes in the box but a blue shirt gets there first to clear.

Derby are asking plenty of questions of the Birmingham defence at the moment.

Strains of 'there's only one Gary Rowett' from the stands at Pride Park. Has that decision to change managers and bring in Gianfranco Zola derailed their play-off challenge?

A bit of aerial ping-pong and the ball drops to Tom Ince on the edge of the area.

He miscues his shot and skews the ball well wide.

Derby are on top at the moment. Rams keeper Scott Carson has not had much to do.

Another half-chance for the hosts.

Will Hughes runs at the Blues defence and causes a bit of chaos but the ball eventually drops to Johnny Russell.

Russell gets plenty of power on his effort, but it is wayward.

Birmingham make their second change of the match, with Diego Fabbrini replacing Maikel Kieftenbeld.

Can the Italian help compatriot Gianfranco Zola find a way back into the game?

Otherwise Zola will be starting his tenure with back-to-back defeats.

Image source, Rex Features

Birmingham come forward for the first time since the goal, and Che Adams gets his first touch.

He looks to find an overlapping Jonathan Grounds, but the left-back has strayed offside.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

I think Darren Bent enjoyed that. Maybe not the wisest move to make sure the celebration was very close to the Birmingham fans.

But it was a perfect penalty and the Derby fans next to the Blues supporters are literally bouncing now.

Gerry Taggart
Ex-Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio 5 live

You only get given those penalties at home. I think Keogh starts it, Morrison reacts to it. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

That's as clinical as you get from Darren Bent.

A chance for Derby to find the breakthrough as Graham Scott points to the spot.

From a corner, Michael Morrison bundles over Richard Keogh. Morrison had his arm around the County skipper's neck.

Darren Bent has the ball on the spot.

In terms of possession at the moment, it's all Derby.

The Rams are looking for another opening and are probing for a weakness in the Blues defence.

The visitors make their first change, as Che Adams replaces Jacques Maghoma on the wing.

Ikechi Anya goes down in the Birmingham box under the challenge of Greg Stewart.

Home fans cry for a penalty, but the offside flag is up. Stewart did have a piece of his shirt...

Blues midfielder David Davis goes into the book for a mistimed sliding challenge on Bradley Johnson.

The Rams are starting to show more urgency.

Gerry Taggart
Ex-Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio 5 live

Ryan Shotton gave the goalkeeper a big hug. He'd have been at fault if that had gone in.

Ryan - he's just saved your bacon.

Image source, Rex Features

Birmingham keeper Tomasz Kuszczak is finally called into action.

Latching onto a poor header back from Ryan Shotton, first Darren Bent tries to lift the ball over the Pole.

The former Manchester United man rushes out off his line and smothers that one.

Tom Ince picks up the pieces and shoots, but it's straight at Kuszczak.

Image source, Rex Features

Both these men have managed in the Premier League, and they'd love to do so again.

And both have been frustrated so far this afternoon at Pride Park

Such long faces on the touchlines from Steve McClaren and Gianfranco Zola.

Who will be the man to make one of them smile?

Darren Bent is flagged offside again, this time from a ball forward from Richard Keogh.

The Birmingham defence had stepped up in unison, laying a fine trap to catch the Derby striker ahead of the play.

Bradley Johnson carries out a sly foul in the centre circle, tripping Blues striker Lukas Jutkiewicz.

The Derby midfielder escapes without a booking, despite protests from Birmingham players.

The hosts have two chances in quick succession to go ahead.

The corner causes chaos and Stephen Gleeson has to be off the post quickly to block an effort.

Then Jacob Butterfield's cross-cum-shot evades everyone, Jonathan Grounds ducks under it and the ball cannons off Darren Bent and behind for a goal kick.

Richard Keogh pumps a ball forward in search of Johnny Russell.

A slight mix-up in the visitors' defence gives Derby a corner.

The second half is under way.

As it stands, Derby are moving up to seventh in the Championship, three points off the play-offs, and extending their unbeaten run to nine matches.

Blues would go seventh if they win.