Birmingham get up into the Sunderland box and Juninho Bacuna fairly fizzes a ball into the danger zone but joint top-scorer in the Championship Scott Hogan can't get a good enough touch on it to create a chance for himself.

More like it from the hosts.

The goal has given Sunderland a lift and there is an eagerness about their play.

They may want to capitalise on this while they are on top.

The 2,600-strong Sunderland travelling support are certainly enjoying it right now as the songs are aired.

The away section is sold out and anyone who has ever travelled on a motorway on a Friday afternoon knows that getting anywhere is an achievement in itself!

Sunderland come again and Jack Clarke is fouled by Hannibal Mejbri on the edge of the box.

A free-kick and a booking for the Tunisia international, his fourth of the season.

The stoppage for Bailey Wright and then another one for Juninho Bacuna after a challenge by Jack Clarke has taken some of the momentum out of the game.

It is threatening to turn into a typical Championship arm-wrestle.

Postpublished at 17 mins

17 mins

Birmingham 0-0 Sunderland

We have had a stoppage of three minutes for Sunderland's big Australian Bailey Wright to get patched up.

The Socceroos defender was caught in a sandwich between Blues' Auston Trusty and his own team-mate Ellis Simms and took a bang to his head.

There appeared to be a bit of claret, but Wright is fine to carry on.

And don't worry, Aussie footballers are made of tough stuff. There is no World Cup worry here!

The play from either side in these early stages has confirmed probably what we already knew.

Sunderland produced a chance from a fine flowing move. Birmingham caused problems from a set-piece.

But there is no right or wrong way to play. It's all about playing to the strengths of the players at your disposal.

A big chance for Blues!

Hannibal Mejbri's corner is not fully cleared and when Birmingham work the ball back into the box, Troy Deeney is there to head against the angle of post and bar from seven yards.

The Blues captain will feel he should have put his side in front there.

Image source, Rex Features

Alex Pritchard hits his free-kick into the wall but when the ball bounces back to him, his daisy-cutter is much better and John Ruddy needs to be watchful and get his body right behind the shot.

Positive stuff from the visitors, and Ruddy in these early minutes.

Sunderland are one of those clubs for whom the World Cup interruption can't come soon enough.

Tony Mowbray is desperate to get Ross Stewart back on the grass along with other injured players like defender Dan Ballard.

But they don't look sorry for themselves as they smoothly move the ball around and Dan Neil produces a lovely ball into Ellis Simms' path, only for John Ruddy to make a vital save to deny Simms.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at St Andrew's

Lovely touch on Remembrance Day from Birmingham City.

The two teams walked out to the original version of the Blues club anthem, Keep Right On To The End Of The Road, sung by Harry Lauder.

That was then followed by an impeccably observed minute's silence and the always poignant Last Post, ended by a huge bellowing of noise from the Tilton Road End.

With the Sunderland fans in full voice at the Railway Stand End too, it all adds up to a vibrant atmosphere for the Wearsiders' first visit to this forgotten field in almost five years.

That period of silence, accompanied by the playing of The Last Post, was impeccably observed.

It is followed by a loud roar of encouragement and the action can begin.

Let's hope for a cracker!

But after all that, we are slightly held up by not having a corner flag!

Image source, Getty Images

Given that it is Remembrance Day, the two sets of players and the crowd are going to hold a minute's silence to remember the people who have died in wars around the world.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images

The World Cup is only nine days away and with squads being announced across the globe, the preparation is starting to heat up.

It is the last match before the biggest show on earth and nobody selected wants to miss out at this stage and that applies for three players at St Andrew's.

Birmingham midfielder Krystian Bielik is included for Poland while Sunderland duo Bailey Wright (Australia) and Jewison Bennette (Costa Rica) are also bound for Qatar.

Blues' on-loan Manchester United player Hannibal Mejbri is also expected to be called up by Tunisia, but their squad is yet to be formally announced.

Bielik, Mejbri and Wright all start. Bennette is on the bench.

For the sakes of these players, let's hope they come through tonight unscathed.

Tony Mowbray has made four alterations to the side which lost at home to Cardiff last Saturday.

Niall Huggins starts his first game for 14 months, while there are places for Alex Pritchard, Corry Evans - who takes the armband - and Trai Hume.

Luke O'Nien is banned, Dennis Cirkin is injured and Patrick Roberts and Abdoullah Ba drop to the bench.

One day after older brother, Jude, was named in England's World Cup squad, Jobe Bellingham has been handed his first Birmingham start.

The teenager, who only turned 17 in September, comes into the side which drew at home to Swansea City on Tuesday night in place of Tahith Chong.

Nothing screams inconsistency quite like this: won six, drawn six, lost seven.

That is Sunderland's record on their return to the Championship after four seasons in League One, as a decent start has drifted into mediocrity.

Injuries to star man Ross Stewart and fellow striker Ellis Simms have not helped, although Simms is now fit again.

Manager Tony Mowbray has not achieved successive wins since taking over from Alex Neil in August and the Black Cats are now only four points above the bottom three.

A positive result to put a bit of a distance between them and the relegation zone going into the shutdown would be very welcome on Wearside.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham are now the current longest-serving team in the Championship since they were relegated from the Premier League in 2011.

There was one failed play-off campaign the year after but much of that time has seen Blues lurch from one crisis to another.

At the moment, owners, the China-based Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited, remain in place as a prospective takeover remains 'ongoing', while their famous old St Andrew's ground is still partially closed

But against this backdrop of uncertainty, manager John Eustace has overseen a run of just two defeats in the last 13 games as they sit comfortably in the top-half with the side displaying those classic Blues trademarks of grit and determination.

Image source, Rex Features

After a frantic few months since the Championship launched on 29 July, we have reached the final weekend before the World Cup break.

The division feels like it has been more predictable than ever with second guessing results proving to be near-impossible.

Today may be 10th against 17th as Birmingham City welcome Sunderland to St Andrew's, but the incentives are strong for both sides.

Three points would catapult Blues into a play-off position. An away win would move the Black Cats up five places into the top half.

If you're joining this page, you know the drill. Buckle up and enjoy the ride as anything could happen in the next 90 minutes!