Daz Hale
BBC WM at St Andrew's

That is the best moment of the game and it's Juninho Bacuna and Onel Hernandez linking up thanks to a delicious 60-yard diagonal ball.

There's more vibrancy from Birmingham, they're brighter when they go forward.

Birmingham launch their first meaningful attack.

A lofted cross is eventually headed down into the path of Onel Hernandez but the Cuban swings wildly at the bouncing ball and... the score remains 0-0.

Oooh now.

Sheffield United want a penalty as Iliman Ndiaye goes down in the area.

I think he *might* have been clipped by Teden Mengi, but it's hard to say for sure, even after watching a replay.

No VAR in the Championship of course.

Image source, Getty Images

Many Birmingham fans are wearing white masks as part of a 'faceless protest' against the club's ownership.

Not a great deal to report from the pitch.

Birmingham win a free-kick 40 yards out.

Ryan Woods swings it in and Marc Roberts makes first contact but it lacks power.

The Blades win the first corner and it causes some real panic in the home defence.

The in-form visitors have settled the quicker so far.

The whistles continue from the stands. It could be a difficult evening for players and officials alike.

The game's carrying on at the moment, as are a lot of the whistles from the stands.

It's understandably been a fairly subdued start to the action on the pitch.

Home fans have been asked over the Tannoy system not to use whistles while the game is being played.

If you're just joining us, the home fans are protesting against the club's ownership.

We're under way in the second city.

Can Birmingham pick up a result to give their season a much-needed boost or will Sheffield United close the gap on the play-off places?

As ever, we'd love to hear from you this evening.

A win for Sheffield United tonight would see the Blades move to within three points of the play-off places, with games in hand.

After a slow start to the campaign under Slavisa Jokanovic they're going in the right direction under new boss Paul Heckingbottom.

Give this post a thumbs up if you fancy them to end the season in the top six or a thumbs down if you don't think they're going to have enough.

You can share any other thoughts about this game or any other EFL-related matters by using #bbcefl on Twitter.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at St Andrew's

It was the official installation of Steve Bruce as West Bromwich Albion's new manager this afternoon just a short four-mile hop (and it was a hop, given the rush hour traffic) across the second city.

So what more appropriate than a meeting of two of his former clubs, Sheffield United, the first of them, visiting Birmingham City, where he enjoyed his first success?

The ground is filling up nicely (those parts that are open, that is, for Blues' meeting with a Blades side who have won six out of their last eight games to climb to 11th - only six points now off the play-offs, some turnaround from the way the season started for them.

Blues are six points further back in 17th. Out of contention surely? But it wasn't that season when Bruce took over here 20 years ago and took them up the play-offs.

If they play like they did in the first half at Derby last Sunday, they might just still have an outside chance. If they play like they did in the final five minutes, then obviously NOT!

Image source, Rex Features

A number of Birmingham fans have protested against the club's ownership both before and during recent games.

Blues fans are unhappy with the way the club is being run and want to see more investment and engagement from the current owners.

The club acknowledged the fans' feeling in a statement released earlier today in which they also asked that the protests remain peaceful.

"The club understands the frustrations felt by sections of the fanbase and supports the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest," the club said in a statement., external

"The support shown for Lee Bowyer and the team in recent weeks has been commendable, but we implore that if you choose to protest it continues in this way and does not adversely affect the football being played on the pitch.

"Whilst the large majority of recent demonstrations have remained nonviolent and supportive of the players, we have seen a number of incidents in recent weeks that we do not condone."

Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer goes with the same XI that took a 2-0 lead at Derby on Sunday only to concede two late goals and draw.Sheffield United make three changes from the side that eased to a 2-0 win at lowly Peterborough last time out. Midfielders John Fleck and Sander Berge both come back into the XI. It's Fleck's first league start since collapsing in the away win at Reading in November.

Image source, Rex Features

Tonight's game is the reverse fixture from the opening weekend of the season.

That night a recently relegated Sheffield United, featuring Aaron Ramsdale in goal, were defeated 1-0 by Birmingham City with Blues putting in a performance that suggested their recent years of struggle might be behind them.

It hasn't played out like that subsequently though and while the visitors tonight have serious hopes of a top six finish, the home side have pressing concerns on and off the field.

Good evening and welcome to Friday's EFL live text.