Huddersfield make a bright start and Emile Smith-Rowe's corner finds Elias Kachunga in the middle, but Kachunga's header is blocked.

Image source, Rex Features

Here we go then. Can Huddersfield move out of the relegation zone, and can Bristol City stop the rot and end their poor form?

The players are now out at both St Andrew's and the City Ground, raring to go.

After their convincing win over Huddersfield on Sunday, fifth-placed Nottingham Forest will hope tonight to move within four points of the top two, depending on West Brom's result in the late game.

As for visitors Bristol City, they urgently need a positive result to revive their fading play-off hopes. The Robins were seventh during lockdown but start this evening's game six points off sixth spot, down in 12th.

Image source, Getty Images

Visitors Huddersfield start this game in the relegation zone, narrowly behind Hull on goal difference.

The Tigers - who host Middlesbrough in what looks like being a proper humdinger of a game tomorrow evening - drew 3-3 at Birmingham on Saturday.

The Terriers will hope to go one better than that this evening at St Andrew's to boost their survival hopes, while the 17th-placed hosts will want to edge a bit further clear of the drop zone than their current cushion of seven points.

Now let's look in some more detail at this evening's two 18:00 BST kick-offs in the Championship.

Image source, PA Media

There's the half-time whistle and it's this 18th-minute strike from England's record goalscorer that separates these two play-off chasing teams so far.

They're entering two minutes of added time at the end of the first half at Deepdale, where Derby still lead thanks to Wayne Rooney's expert direct free-kick.

Birmingham make one change, with Jeremie Bela handed a start after his half-time introduction on Saturday helped spark the Blues' fightback from 2-0 down against Hull. He replaces Maikel Kieftenbeld.

Visitors Huddersfield change three, including a return to the starting side for Fraizer Campbell, who scored against Birmingham in a 1-1 draw in November, as well as twice last season.

Birmingham XI: Camp, Colin, Dean, Clarke-Salter, Pedersen, Crowley, Bellingham, Gardner, Bela, Jutkiewicz, Hogan.

Huddersfield XI: Lossl, Duhaney, Stearman, Schindler, Toffolo, Hogg, Campbell, Kachunga, Smith-Rowe, O'Brien, Ahearne-Grant.

Ex-Wigan captain Emmerson Boyce hopes their players can keep their focus after the club went into administration.

The Latics are the first professional English side to enter administration since the coronavirus pandemic began.

They face a 12-point deduction either this season or next depending on their final position in the table.

If the score was to stay like this, Derby would go above Preston in to seventh and move within just one point of sixth-placed Cardiff.

The Rams and North End started today level on points with one another.

Derby are looking very strong on the ball so far tonight, as we move within 10 minutes of the half-time break.

Image source, PA Media

Sean: Good to see Derby giving Rooney an opportunity - he has potential to go places this kid!

Duane Holmes is given too much room just outside the area and fires a decent strike low towards the near post, but Preston keeper Declan Rudd makes an important save.

Nottingham Forest make one change to the side that won 3-1 against Huddersfield on Sunday, with Ryan Yates replacing Brennan Johnson.

Yates came on for young forward Johnson at half-time against the Terriers.

There are two changes to the Bristol City side beaten by Sheffield Wednesday.

Adam Nagy and Zak Vyner start for the Robins as Han-Noah Massengo drops to bench, while Jack Hunt misses out completely.

Nottm Forest XI: Samba, Cash, Figueiredo, Worrall, Ribeiro, Watson, Yates, Silva, Lolley, Ameobi, Grabban

Bristol City XI: Maenpaa, Dasilva, Nagy, Baker, Smith, O'Dowda, Weimann, Wells, Vyner, Williams, Afobe.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston are now enjoying their best spell of the game, as they look to get back on level terms after Wayne Rooney's free-kick opened the scoring.

Preston's best move of the game so far ends with Alan Browne racing on to meet a square ball inside the box, right in to his path, but Browne places his low shot a couple of yards wide. It's a good chance.

He's clattered to the floor just after he shoots, and Preston momentarily call for a penalty, but the ball was rolling off the field before the contact came.

Not only that, it's Rooney's second goal in as many games. The 34-year-old is in fine form.

Don't forget, you can have your say on any of tonight's games, Wigan's future or any other EFL news by using #bbcefl on social media, and I'd be very glad to hear your thoughts.