That's all from St Andrew's for this evening.

Crack the heater up in the car to thaw out.

Join us tomorrow for more from the EFL.

Goodnight.

Well I hope that warmed you up.

It was all so comfortable for Birmingham but Reading couldn't get back into it early enough.

So on we go to tomorrow where we'll bring you every kick in the EFL, as ever.

Leaders Burnley will hope to extend their three point lead at home to Middlesbrough at 15:00 GMT.

Watford, in fifth, go to bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield.

But the big game of the day comes at 17:30 GMT when third-placed Blackburn travel to Norwich, who start the weekend fourth.

Second-placed Sheffield United will be watching it all with a mince pie or two ahead of their game at Wigan on Monday.

Image source, Rex Features

Birmingham make a successful return to St Andrew's after the World Cup break.

The damage was all done in the first half with the early goal from Troy Deeney, the second from the spot for the skipper.

And then the defensive error that let Tahith Chong in for the third.

It didn't quite win the game but it was too late when Lucas Joao finally got a goal back for Reading and then Tom Ince added another with seconds to go.

Birmingham up to seventh in the table, above Reading on goal difference.

Reading work it really well down the right but Mamadou Loum can't get his cross in and Birmingham survive.

And then goes the final whistle!

A few nerves at the end but Blues have seen out victory.

Five minutes added on.

Not long enough for Reading. Probably.

Image source, Rex Features

Some more pressure from Reading trying to utilise the presence of big Andy Carroll.

Tom Ince sends a ball in from the right and John Ruddy can't take it cleanly!

Fortunately for the Blues goalkeeper, a foul was given and the lead remains healthy.

Yakou Meite has perhaps been Reading's best player tonight but his race is run and Andy Carroll replaces him.

Baba Rahman is also done and Nesta Guinness-Walker comes on.

Hannibal Mejbri is making his way off for Birmingham.

And on comes Bellingham - 17-year-old Jobe, Jude's younger brother.

Sadly, Jude is in the stands to watch his kid brother and not preparing for Sunday.

Reading still trying to make it a little interesting in the closing stages.

A cross from the right is met by Yakou Meite but he heads well over.

Then they work a corner on the right - their seventh of the night - but again nothing comes of it.

Ah this is so close to Troy Deeney's hat-trick!

He takes a low cross from the right and shifts it away from the defender to make room for the shot.

His right foot effort is a foot wide of the right-hand post.

Change for the hosts.

Juniho Bacuno makes way for 18-year-old Jordan James, who was in Qatar with the Wales squad.

Birmingham go close again!

Neat play from Hannibal Mejbri down the right sends in Tahith Chong at a tight angle.

The shot across goal is tipped away by Reading goalkeeper Joe Lumley.

Double change for Reading.

Shane Long and Amadou Mbengue give way for Junior Hoilett and Lucas Joao.

Still flickers of life for Reading but they really do need something more tangible than field position.

A corner on the left is swung in by Tom Ince but cleared away.

Birmingham have generally dealt with crosses well tonight.

Image source, Rex Features

Another free-kick to Reading.

25 yards out for Tom Ince, not a bad left-foot effort but started too high and never really threatening John Ruddy in the Blues goal.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at St Andrew's

One of the features for any visiting journalist to St Andrew's over the past three decades or more has been the relative lack of impetus to improve the press facilties.

But Birmingham City boss John Eustace should enjoy his post-match trip to the magnificent newly refurbished press room tonight.

He has a lovely new black leather swivel chair to sit in and a splendidly shiny new blue and white desk to sit behind.

It remains to be seen whether his counterpart Paul Ince will enjoy sitting in the same hot seat later. But Blues mascot Beau Brummie was on hand to try it out . . .

Image source, Ged Scott - BBC Sport

So close to four for Birmingham!

A ball over the top finds Tahith Chong running onto it.

He rounds the goalkeeper again but his shot is this time blocked.

The rebound falls to Troy Deeney at the top of the area but his right-foot strike is cleared off the line by Tom McIntyre!

Early pressure from Reading and they win a free-kick on the right.

The cross isn't dealt with and it falls for Andy Yiadom to have a shot and it's deflected wide for another corner.

They can't make anything of it.