Derby have the bit between their teeth and Louie Sibley is enjoying himself on his return to the side.

He advances on the Birmingham goal again and sees his rising shot from outside the box helped over the bar by Neil Etheridge.

Birmingham left-back Kristian Pedersen gets a talking-to from the referee for a late challenge on Kamil Jozwiak on halfway.

Somehow he avoids a booking.

Coming up to the midway point in the first half, and Birmingham need to find a response from somewhere.

The Blues have given the Rams a two-goal lead after two avoidable errors.

Aitor Karanka's men are heading for a sixth defeat in seven home games.

Who saw this coming? The EFL's bottom club Stevenage are leading play-off chasing Cambridge United at the break thanks to Charlie Carter's tap-in.

As it stands, the Boro will jump up to 23rd in League Two, two points off safety.

Louie Sibley gets to a pass in front of Harlee Dean on the left-hand side of the box and gets a nudge in the back.

He goes down and referee Tony Harrington points to the spot!

Blues centre-back Dean can't have too many complaints. It was a clumsy challenge.

Important block from Blues right-back Maxime Colin.

Colin Kazim-Richards controls a cross which is behind him but sees his low shot on the turn blocked behind for a corner.

Best chance of the game so far as Krystian Bielik slides a pass through the home defence to Louie Sibley.

The Rams forward shoots left-footed from inside the area, and Blues keeper Neil Etheridge gets a strong hand to the ball to palm Sibley's angled drive over the bar at his near post.

It's been a decent opening 10 minutes, with a good tempo to the game.

As things stand a point would move Derby out of the relegation zone, ahead of Rotherham's game against Barnsley later this evening.

An error at the back presents the Rams with another chance.

Blues centre-back George Friend passes the ball straight to Kamil Jozwiak, but the Polish winger sends his shot over the bar from outside the box.

Early attacking opportunity for the visitors as Louie Sibley latches on to a flick-on from Colin Kazim-Richards.

The teenager drives at goal but sees his shot from outside the box deflected into the arms of Blues keeper Neil Etheridge.

Straight down the other end, and Birmingham winger Ivan Sanchez cuts inside from the right flank and shoots narrowly wide.

That one was deflected too. A bright start.

Back to League Two and Charlie Carter has just put struggling Stevenage in front.

It was a tap-in following a goalmouth scramble. Proper Sunday League stuff.

We've got about 15 minutes until half-time at Lamex Stadium.

The hosts get the game going after both sides take the knee.

The Rams are in their pink away shirts.

Tony Harrington is the man in charge of the early kick-off.

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

Derby County are the lowest scorers in the Championship, with just 10 goals in their 20 games this season.

Colin Kazim-Richards, who has started all seven games under Wayne Rooney, is their joint-top scorer with two goals.

Birmingham haven't exactly been banging them in either, with 17 in their 21 outings.

The Blues have netted three times in as many games, but two came in defeat at Cardiff and the other in the 4-1 reverse at home against Middlesbrough.

Hopefully we'll have some goalmouth action to report in the early kick-off.

Birmingham make two changes from the goalless draw at Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.

Kristian Pedersen replaces Marc Roberts in defence and Gary Gardner comes in for Alen Halilovic in midfield.

Birmingham XI: Etheridge, Colin, Dean, Friend, Pedersen, Sunjic, Clayton, Gardner, Sanchez, Bela, Hogan.

Substitutes: Prieto (GK), Dacres-Cogley, Clarke-Salter, San Jose, Kieftenbeld, Toral, McGree, Leko, Jutkiewicz.

Derby make two changes from the 1-0 defeat by Preston three days ago.

Craig Forsyth comes in for Lee Buchanan at left-back, while Louie Sibley replaces the suspended Martyn Waghorn.

Sixteen-year-old Kaide Gordon is among the substitutes.

Derby XI: Marshall, Byrne, Wisdom, Clarke, Forsyth, Bielik, Shinnie, Knight, Jozwiak, Sibley, Kazim-Richards.

Substitutes: Roos (GK), Te Wierik, Buchanan, Bird, Evans, Holmes, Watson, Gordon, Hector-Ingram.

Image source, Getty Images

On Boxing Day Derby County suffered their first setback since interim boss Wayne Rooney took sole charge, with the Rams beaten 1-0 at home by Preston after having Martyn Waghorn sent off after 20 minutes.

That was a first defeat in seven for the Pride Park outfit, who are now only inside the relegation zone on goal difference.

That means taking at least a point from their trip to St Andrew's will see the Rams will climb out of the bottom three, at least for a few hours.

Hosts Birmingham are four without a win and are in danger of being pulled into the scrap at the bottom.

Aitor Karanka's Blues are winless in six games at home, and start the day seven points above Derby.

Strugglers Stevenage have started well against Cambridge United in League Two.

Boro are without a win in their last four.

A point for the U's will temporarily put them into the play-off places.

We're 20 minutes in and Joe Ironside has just had a shot sail off target for the visitors.

Here is what is coming up in the second tier:

• Birmingham City v Derby County (17:30 GMT)
• Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough (19:00 GMT)
• Huddersfield Town v Blackburn Rovers (19:45 GMT)
• Luton Town v Bristol City (19:45 GMT)
• Norwich City v Queens Park Rangers (19:45 GMT)
• Preston North End v Coventry City (19:45 GMT)
• Rotherham United v Barnsley (19:45 GMT)
• Wycombe Wanderers v Cardiff City (19:45 GMT)
• Stoke City v Nottingham Forest (20:00 GMT)

Meanwhile, one game is already under way in League Two...

Image source, Rex Features

The days between Christmas and the New Year often seem to blend into one, when little is going on and you barely know what date it is.

At least today brings some English Football League action to keep you entertained.

There are nine games coming up in the Championship, with a further five in League One and nine in League Two.

The first second-tier game gets under way in 15 minutes' time, with a Midlands derby kicking off the action.