Neatly done down the left from Rangers but the ball over is a little weak and too much to do for Ethan Laird stealing in at the back post.

Still plenty of time for Michael Beale's side.

Scott Hogan escapes up the right and a clear pull-back from QPR defender Leon Balogun sees him become the latest booked.

Blues work a thrown-in down the right from Juninho Bacuna to Emmanuel Longelo.

He drives into the area and slides over a cross but no-one can get on the end of it.

A sharp challenge now from Krystian Bielik and he goes into the book.

Won the ball but looked a little out of control.

Image source, Rex Features

And that will do it for Hannibal Mejbri.

A sensible substitution.

Juninho Bacuna is on.

Hannibal Mejbri dives in on Ethan Laird and is probably fortunate not to receive a second booking.

Rob Dickie is booked for his protests with the referee.

Image source, Rex Features

Sulaimon Adelekan: Birmingham look more hungry and motivated to win this match. After finishing 20th last season, they won't be worried about a relegation fight this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Blues with their first moment of the half.

Tahith Chong drives down the right and gets a chance to shoot at the top of the area.

An easy save for Seny Dieng down to his right.

Then Rangers up the other end and Lyndon Dykes with acres to shoot from 20 yards out but his driving left-foot effort is wide.

Ben Amos picks up a floated ball down the right for the visitors, gets to the dead-ball line and his pull-back is well blocked for a corner.

The second phase is then swung in by Ilias Chair and almost falls for a hooped shirt, but Blues just about manage to scramble the ball clear.

Second-half under way at St Andrew's.

It's the home fans who sing as they sense a third win in four games.

#Keep right on 'til the end of the road...

QPR need something to happen in this second half.

They've made a third change as they prepare to get back underway with Stefan Johansen replaced by Ben Amos.

Image source, Getty Images

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Ged Scott
BBC Sport at St Andrew's

It’s been quite a few weeks if your name is Beale.

What with Michael Beale doing so well with QPR since he left Villa and Richard Beale having spent a fortnight as West Brom caretaker boss, the Beales have probably spent more time making headlines this past month than since EastEnders first began.

QPR boss Beale has even been linked with both the vacancies at Wolves and Villa - but, across the second city, he is so far having an uncomfortable night in front of a reduced-capacity, 19,007 Birmingham City crowd.

It's not like Beale's side are being outplayed by the fired-up hosts, well managed by former QPR number two John Eustace.

They have had as much of the play and also created good chances. But the Blues fans are in very good heart and very good voice - and, although there are more than 2,000 visiting QPR fans here to try and help, it's going to take some coming back from this.

It's the second time in successive home games that the team in second place have arrived for a night game at St Andrew's needing a win to go top of the Championship table. And, just like Vincent Kompany's Burnley nine days ago, it looks like another mission destined to fail.

A dream first half for Blues.

The first goal was a total fluke via Auston Trusty's backheel.

The second a nicely taken goal from Emmanuel Longelo.

QPR have been a shadow of themselves and have it all to do to get anything out of this game now.

Here come Rangers.

Kenneth Paal is worked into a dangerous area up the left and his cross finds Sinclair Armstrong eight yards out but he can't bring it down.

There's a second chance after a cross from the right but Armstrong flicks a header over the bar.

Three minutes added on at the end of the first half.

A bouncing ball is met first by Troy Deeney for the hosts and he flicks it into the path of Hannibal Mejbri.

His first touch is OK but then he's crowded out by the last defender and can't make anything of a threatening run.

Five corners for Rangers so far and the latest of them is cheaply won after a hopeful ball down the right.

But again they can't make anything of it.

Frustration continues for the visitors.

Image source, PA Media

Sinclair Armstrong picks up possession in his own half and spins and goes sprinting away into home territory.

Auston Trusty is having none of it, gets a good handful of his shirt and is rightly booked.

From the following play, Rangers win a closer free-kick and a left-foot curling effort from Stefan Johansen is tipped around the post by John Ruddy.