Derby right-back Chris Baird almost causes problems with Scott Carson with a poor back-pass, but the ex-England keeper rushes out and heads away from danger.

Just as well that he did, as Lukas Jutkiewicz was sniffing for scraps there.

Maikel Kieftenbeld takes aim from range and unleashes from just over 30 yards out.

The strike from the Birmingham man was well off target. Rams keeper Scott Carson was never going to be troubled by that one.

It's a first effort on goal from the Blues though.

Birmingham come forward after Greg Stewart and Lukas Jutkiewicz both hold the ball up well.

Blues work the ball wide to the left but then Jacques Maghoma overhits his cross, which drifts well above Jutkiewicz.

Derby are looking very tidy in possession and are starting to have more of the ball.

They are putting together quite a few passes in the middle third, but are yet to seriously stretch the Birmingham defence.

Ryan Shotton has to be alert to thwart a run from Tom Ince on the right.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Gianfranco Zola has been out applauding his side at regular intervals - even a few misplaced passes when the intentions have been good.

The Birmingham boss is definitely not an old school football manager. Mike Bassett wasn't modelled on the little Italian. You can barely imagine him getting angry.

Image source, Empics

Tom Ince has a run at the Blues defence, but Jacques Maghoma tracks back to concede a corner.

From the delivery, Richard Keogh fouls Michael Morrison and the visitors get a chance to clear their lines.

Derby striker Darren Bent has his first sniff at goal, as Johnny Russell dinks a ball in from the left towards the former England international.

Bent gets across the ball but can't twist his neck enough to direct his header at goal.

A half-chance for the Rams man.

Tom Ince swings the ball into the Derby box and Alex Pearce gets a head on it, but Birmingham manage to clear their lines.

We're still waiting for the first effort on goal.

Birmingham have settled better since that early injury to Derby's Marcus Olsson.

The visitors have a decent passage of possession in the Derby half before Will Hughes manages to win it and break up the move.

Tom Ince then gets on the ball and wins a free-kick out on the right, midway inside Birmingham's half.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Oh dear. Poor Marcus Olsson. That's one of the slowest walks off a pitch you are ever likely to see. The hamstring-clutching, head-shaking full-back looked distraught as he hobbled down the tunnel.

You don't run that injury off.

Image source, Empics

Confirmation of the change, as Ikechi Anya comes on for Marcus Olsson at left-back.

The Scotland international wasn't quite ready to come on immediately, so Derby played a couple of minutes with 10 men there.

In that time, Blues came forward and Jonathan Grounds almost won a corner kick.

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

Marcus Olsson's got that bit of extra quality than Ikechi Anya in terms of putting balls into the box, although Anya is full of pace and full of running.

Derby look like they will be forced into an early change, as left-back Marcus Olsson pulls up clutching his hamstring while chasing a ball forward over the top.

Not a great deal of action in either box to report so far, as both sides look for a foothold.

Derby win a free-kick on the left just inside the Birmingham half but opt to head backwards and keep possession.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Quite a few people get sniffy about handing out free flags and creating a "fake atmosphere". But it's got Pride Park well up for this so why not? Where do you stand on this? I say let it go.

Seven wins out of eight helps get people in the mood of course. 

Image source, Empics

Birmingham come forward with purpose early on, and Jonathan Spector wins a throw-in on the right.

Alex Pearce manages to get a head on his long throw into the box and the hosts clear.

Remember you can listen to commentary of this game on BBC Radio 5 live - click on the audio icon at the top of the page to do so.

We are under way in our second Championship match of the day as the Blues get us started.

Derby are in white shirts and black shorts, while Birmingham are all in blue.

Graham Scott is the referee.

The two teams are momentarily left waiting in the tunnel for one of the officials.

Kick-off at a sold-out Pride Park is almost upon us.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Derby are unbeaten in eight under their new manager Steve McClaren and everything is looking rosy for the Rams.

It wasn't so good a few weeks ago when Nigel Pearson left and relegation was more of a talking point.

It was looking pretty good at Birmingham a couple of weeks back, but Gary Rowett still got sacked. Anyway, no looking back and all that.

Gianfranco Zola lost his first game but can the new Blues boss emulate his Derby counterpart and start an amazing run?

Image source, Empics

The flags are waving at Pride Park with less than five minutes to kick-off.

Wonderful scenes before the players emerge from the tunnel.