Some rather astounding facts for you ahead of kick-off.

Brighton have scored first in 18 of their Championship games this season, and gone on to win them all.

Conversely, Newcastle haven't tasted victory in any of the seven league games in which they've conceded the first goal, drawing one and losing six.

If Albion net first, will the Magpies buck the trend?

BBC Radio 5 live

BBC Radio 5 live has commentary of Brighton v Newcastle - you can watch 5 Live Final Score by clicking on the play icon at the top of the page.

Jonathan Pearce and Southend manager Phil Brown are your commentary team.

BBC Sussex and BBC Newcastle are also providing live coverage, although a rights issue means we are unable to stream their commentaries on the BBC Sport website.

If you're a Brighton fan or a Newcastle supporter - or a neutral, you can get involved in our live text coverage tonight via Twitter.

Simply include #bbcefl in your tweets to send us your thoughts.

We'll include the best ones throughout the evening.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a snapshot of why the League One match at Walsall was called off earlier...

Image source, Rex Features

Warren Aspinall
Ex-Brighton midfielder on BBC Sussex

"You want games like this.

"This is an important game and it's a no-lose game for me.

"Newcastle have the money and the financial clout to get out of this league. The pressure must be getting to the players.

"The Brighton team will have to get the shape correctly when Newcastle attack. Brighton have to tire them out."

Tonight's match at the Amex Stadium starts a run of crucial away trips for Newcastle, who face a trio of games at their promotion rivals.

On Saturday the Magpies go to third-placed Huddersfield, and then Rafael Benitez's side visit fifth-placed Reading on Tuesday, 7 March.

United have the best away record in the Championship, having picked up 35 points away from St James' Park already this season, but that form will face a stern challenge over the next week.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Brighton and Newcastle have been battling it out at the top of the Championship all season.

Albion boss Chris Hughton already has experience of lifting the second-tier title, when he was in charge of tonight's visitors in the 2009-10 season.

That triumph came in the 58-year-old's first full season as a manager and, although he was dismissed in December 2010, he has fond memories of his time on Tyneside.

"In any player's or manager's career you look back on big moments. That was very special for me and the club," he said.

"Certainly it has helped shape my career. It was an incredibly good group I had.

"I developed as a manager over that period. What we went through gave me a grasp of what management is about, with the ups and downs."

Victory for the Seagulls tonight would surely put them in pole position to clinch the title in May.

Image source, Rex

Tonight Tony Mowbray takes charge of his first home game since his appointment as Blackburn boss, and Rovers have a chance to boost their survival prospects.

The Ewood Park side are three points from safety, although 21st-placed Bristol City are also in action this evening.

Rovers could be level on 33 points with the Robins by the close of play - or as much as five points from safety if results go against them.

Visitors Derby have seen their play-off challenge falter following a run of five games without a win.

Both Rams boss Steve McClaren and Mowbray could do with a victory to breath new life into their respective seasons.

Brendon Mitchell
BBC Sport at Villa Park

It's hard to believe now that, before these two teams met at Ashton Gate at the end of August, Bristol City were on the cusp of the play-off places and Aston Villa were just finding their feet having gone three games unbeaten.

Tonight's fixture has a very different feel to it, with both sides enduring difficult recent runs - though baby steps were, at least, taken on Saturday.

Villa, on the back of seven defeats in eight, at last found the winning touch with a home victory over Derby, while City, after 10 losses in their last 13, managed a creditable draw at Newcastle.

But baby steps is all they were, most certainly nothing more, and a poor showing from either side tonight would ensure an uncomfortable final few months of the season.

Image source, Rex Features

It's almost a full slate of games in League Two, with promotion hopefuls Luton and bottom side Newport the only two teams not involved tonight.

Leaders Doncaster will hope to end their five-match winless run as they travel to Cambridge, while second-placed Plymouth could move level on points with Rovers with a win over Notts County and a Cambridge victory.

Portsmouth will move into the automatic play-off places if they beat Morecambe and third-placed Carlisle fail to pick up point at Cheltenham.

At the bottom of the table, Leyton Orient could climb out of the relegation zone with a win at play-off chasing Stevenage - that's if Harltlepool lose at home to Crewe.

• Accrington v Wycombe
• Blackpool v Barmet
• Cambridge v Doncaster
• Cheltenham v Carlisle
• Crawley v Exeter
• Grimsby v Colchester
• Hartlepool v Crewe
• Plymouth v Notts County
• Portsmouth v Morecambe
• Stevenage v Leyton Orient
• Yeovil v Mansfield 

Image source, Rex Features

There are eight games in League One tonight, but leaders Sheffield United are among the teams not in action.

Second-placed Scunthorpe will be hoping to take advantage and close the gap to the Blades to five points with victory at home to Wimbledon, having gone five games without a win in the league.

Another defeat for the Iron tonight could see fourth-placed Bolton move level on points with them, as the Trotters take on Bristol Rovers in a 20:00 kick-off.

As we've already metioned, two games have been postponed because of waterlogged pitches - Rochdale v Port Vale and Walsall v Chesterfield.

• Bradford v MK Dons
• Bury v Coventry
• Millwall v Peterborough
• Northampton v Oldham
• Rochdale P-P Port Vale
• Scunthorpe v Wimbledon
• Shrewsbury v Charlton
• Swindon v Gillingham
• Walsall P-P Chesterfield
• Bolton v Bristol Rovers (20:00 GMT)

You may have noticed it's a pretty miserable night out there and the weather has unfortunately claimed a couple of League One games.

Rochdale against Port Vale and Walsall v Chesterfield are both off because of waterlogged pitches.

Image source, Rex Features

There are two other games in the Championship tonight, and here is the headline team news;

Aston Villa v Bristol City:  Villa make one change from the side which beat Derby 1-0 on Saturday, as midfielder Gary Gardner replaces the suspended Leandro Bacuna; Bristol City name the same starting line-up which held Newcastle to a draw at the weekend.

Blackburn v Derby County: Sam Gallagher replaces Danny Graham up front in the only change to the Blackburn team which drew with fellow strugglers Burton; Derby make three changes from the side which lost at Villa, with Chris Baird, Bradley Johnson and David Nugent all recalled.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez makes two changes from the side which drew 2-2 at home to Bristol City.

They are both up front, as Mo Diame and Yoan Gouffran replace Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Magpies remain without 20-goal top scorer Dwight Gayle, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Image source, BBC Sport

Substitutes: Elliot (GK), Gamez, Hanley, Anita, Perez, Mitrovic, Murphy.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton names the same XI which beat Reading 3-0 on Saturday.

Sam Baldock, Jamie Murphy and Anthony Knockaert got the goals in that victory.

Glenn Murray has 16 goals for the season, but only one in his last nine Championship outings.

Image source, BBC SPort

Substitutes:  Walton (GK), Huenemeier, Tomori, Kayal, March, Hemed, Akpom

Tonight's meeting between Brighton and Newcastle could prove vital in the race to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Albion are one point ahead of the Magpies, who have a five-point gap to third-placed Huddersfield.

Brighton have only lost once at home in the league this season and their form at the Amex makes impressive reading.

Image source, BBC Sport

The Seagulls are eyeing a place in the top flight for the first time since 1982-83, while Newcastle are trying to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

If either side wins tonight, they may be able to breath a bit easier with more space to the chasing pack in the play-off places.

We've got team news from the south coast on the way shortly.

Good evening and welcome to our live text coverage of this evening's English Football League action.

The big game is at the Amex Stadium, where Championship leaders Brighton face second-placed Newcastle.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa host Bristol City and struggling Blackburn entertain Derby County.

There are also 19 games across League One and League Two, and we'll keep you up to date with all the action.

Image source, Rex Features