First save of the game by Neil Etheridge in the Birmingham goal, after some clever, patient football from the home side around the penalty area.

Kamil Jozwiak got some space and threaded a low pass into the path of Luke Plange, who does well to check his run and slide a low shot which was easily saved.

Rams looking sharp.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Pride Park

It took over 10 minutes for the march of Derby fans to go past as the long line of supporters made its way out of the city centre.

Songs backing the Rams - and manager Wayne Rooney - and opposing former owner Mel Morris and chief executive Stephen Pearce - were sung as the fans filed past on their way to Pride Park.

They then gathered near the statue of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor to sing more songs.

Derby were given an extension of a month by the English Football League on Friday to provide proof they have enough funds to get to the end of the season.

They have been in administration until September.

Image source, BBC Sport

Plenty of cut and thrust about Derby in the early stages, some smart football to get to the edge of the Birmingham box, but a handball by Jason Knight sees a free-kick given against the hosts.

Knight has been a shining light for Derby this season, playing beyond his years in a tough environment.

John Brooks is our referee at Pride Park.

This is a massive game, as Derby want to pull closer to a safe spot, and Birmingham want to edge ever clear of their own troubles.

It's electric. Off we go. Blues kick us off.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Derby poet Jamie Thrasivoulou has given a stirring pre-match address.

The atmosphere in the stadium is intense.

Birmingham City can really poop the party this afternoon with a strong performance, but they will have to manage the atmosphere first of all.

Derby fans, fearful of the club's future, have just rippled a big flag featuring the likes of Kevin Hector, Roy McFarland, Peter Shilton, Dean Saunders, Colin Todd and Mark Wright... legends from the history of this club.

So much prestige.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Image source, PA Media

Thousands of Derby fans walked from the city centre to Pride Park stadium to highlight their club’s perilous state.

Administrators have been given until the end of February to assure the English Football League they have funds to complete the season.

Banners backing the club but opposing former owner Mel Morris and Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson, who has a £50m compensation claim against the Rams were displayed.

Songs were also sung opposing the EFL but backing manager Wayne Rooney, who rejected the chance to talk to Everton about their manager’s job, saying he was committed to Derby.

It will be an emotional afternoon at Pride Park.

There will be lumps in the throat as 'Steve Bloomer's Watchin' blares out of the PA.

It's already looking full.

Rams fans have been busy already this morning.

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer believes you have to look beyond the league table to see the quality which lies within the Derby County squad going into today's game.

The Rams are joint-bottom with Barnsley but in doing so have whittled away a 21-point deduction from their tally.

"Wayne and his team have done a great job," Bowyer told BBC Radio WM. "But they're a good team, a good side.

"They've closed the gap, and given themselves a chance of avoiding relegation, which is some achievement, but they're a good side.

"They've got players like [Tom] Lawrence, who is very, very good. So it'll be a tough game.

"I feel for the club, for the fans and the players and people who work at the club it must be difficult."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Pride Park

As a player, Wayne Rooney's career was involved in the biggest games, with Manchester United and England in major tournaments.

Comparatively, his coaching spell has been solid graft in some of the most difficult situations. No easy-street cushy numbers for Rooney. Administration, player departures and transfer embargos.

He has pledged his loyalty to the Rams' cause too, despite interest from boyhood team Everton.

Making sure the club comes through their administration issues is his sole concern, with the EFL granting Derby a further month to prove their financial viability for the season.

"The important thing is this club gets sorted out," Rooney said in his latest briefing. "And if it needs another month to make sure we do that, it's a good thing.

"It's still unknown, and not knowing what lies ahead in the future is a difficult place to be in."

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Derby have Craig Forsyth, Kamil Jozwiak and Luke Plange back in the side, as Lee Buchanan, Festy Ebosele and Colin-Kazim Richards go onto the bench.

Krystian Bielik is back in the squad for his first appearance in a year, and former Rangers teenager Malcolm Ebiowei is also included on the bench.

Birmingham have new signing - and former Forest striker - Lyle Taylor in their squad. He can be assured of a warm welcome from the home support...

Juninho Bacuna is also included as boss Lee Bowyer freshens things up.

Derby: Allsop, Byrne, Stearman, Davies Forsyth, Knight, Thompson, Bird, Lawrence, Jozwiak, Plange.

Subs: Roos, Bielik, Buchanan, Sibley, Ebosele, Kazim-Richards, Ebiowei

Birmingham: Etheridge, Colin, Mengi, Roberts, Pedersen, Woods, Gardner, Hernandez, Bacuna, Hogan, Taylor

Subs: Trueman, Friend, james, Graham, Sunjic, Jutkiewicz, Bela

Right then.

Amidst all the important off-field chatter, we do have a game to play here.

Wayne Rooney's Derby have dealt with all the distractions really well, overhauling their points deduction and picking up some impressive wins.

However, their squad is stretched by the signing restrictions, and defeats by Coventry and painfully against rivals Nottingham Forest have just stuttered their progress slightly of late.

Birmingham have managed to arrest a worrying slide with victory over Barnsley and a draw with Peterborough, and points against teams around them at the bottom end of the Championship are pivotal for the Blues.

Image source, .

In fairness, they will likely have the support and sympathy of the Birmingham City contingent in the ground, who have had protests and issues of their own this season.

Fans recently made their feelings clear about the ownership, with the Blues part of Birmingham Sports Holdings Ltd, led by Chinese businessman Paul Suen.

It will be interesting to see the response. Usual inter-Midlands rivalries might just be forgotten for a moment, as no fan wants to consider the prospect of losing their club.

And yet, it means more in a way when it doesn't go well. When a club needs you most. For Derby County supporters, their club is under threat and needs them more than ever.

They are still in administration, desperately seeking a buyer, under financial restrictions, while Wycombe and Middlesbrough have claims against the club also - and those outstanding issues are affecting the ability to complete a deal.

There is a game to play today, an important one against Birmingham City given their tough predicament on the field at the bottom end of the Championship.

However, today is also a chance to show the football world how much the Rams mean to them. Pride Park will be packed out with 33,000 fans which is also a welcome boost to the coffers.

Image source, Rex Features

What is a football club?

It's a sporting entity. It's a beacon for a community. It's a source of pride. It's a totem for a city, a town, a village.

It can be people's escape. It can be their inspiration. Their outlet. Their happy place. The place to let off steam, to scream and explode with unbridled joy when it goes well.