Back under way at St Andrew's with Reading kicking towards their supporters in the Railway End.

My days what must those fans be thinking?

It's minus three in the Midlands.

Image source, Rex Features

England's newest star, Jude Bellingham, is at St Andrew's tonight and will have surely liked what he saw in that first half?

The former Blues midfielder is still waiting for his younger brother Jobe to make an appearance.

The 17-year-old is on the bench.

Blues in total control at the break.

Troy Deeney pounced on a flick-on to give his side the lead after barely a minute.

A soft but fair penalty saw Deeney double the lead.

Then a ridiculous error let Tahith Chong in to score the third.

Image source, Rex Features

Two minutes added on.

Pathetic! Have they not been watching the World Cup?

Yakou Meite in the thick of things again from Reading.

Krystian Bielik is one of several players tangling with the striker but it's Bielik who brings him down and becomes the first booking of the night.

What you don't want three down is a clobber in the chops.

Poor Yakou Meite takes an accidental arm in the face but looks okay.

Still signs of encouragement for Reading going forward but they need some genuine hope here.

Reading try to get something going down the right flank.

There's a few pink shirts available at the top of the penalty area but out comes Auston Trusty with a good tackle to clear the danger.

Things have rather settled down since that second goal.

It's left Reading with a big task.

They'd responded quite well to the opening goal but to lose a cheap second like that is a sickener.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at St Andrew's

It is one very, very cold night in the second city tonight.

But the Birmingham City fans are surely feeling a lot more snug than their Reading counterparts after that early lucky break for Troy Deeney's goal - and that equally lucky break for his second from the penalty spot.

He did rather look like he was angling for that.

Blues have only won three home games this season - but two of them have been on a Friday night. And there must already be a fair chance now that Reading will follow the fate of the previous Friday fallers, Huddersfield Town and QPR.

Troy Deeney to Tahith Chong at the top of the area.

He gives it back to Deeney who nips the ball away before Naby Sarr comes sliding in and catches Deeney.

It wasn't an obvious one but Sarr goes to ground, isn't in control and makes contact so I don't think there can be any complaints.

It's another excellent stop from John Ruddy.

He's fortunate that Yakou Meite's right-foot hit is straight at him from just inside the box but he clings on well nonetheless.

A yard either side and that was probably 1-1, it was a powerful try from the Reading frontman.

It's the eighth time this season that Blues have scored inside the opening 15 minutes.

The most early goals of anyone in the Championship.

Can they build on tonight's fast start?

Back come Reading.

They have a corner that's overhit but it's then worked smartly to Andy Yiadom on the right side of the area.

The ball bounces up for a right-foot strike and it's a very good low save by John Ruddy down to his right to push it behind for a corner.

Here come Blues again.

Krystian Bielik with a ball down the right channel that finds Tahith Chong.

He cuts back onto his left foot at the top of the area but his shot is well blocked.

Both teams and the crowd observe a minute's silence to remember the four boys who tragically died after falling into an icy lake in nearby Babbs Mill Park earlier this week.

It's impeccably observed and away we go in the east end of the second city.

Image source, Rex Features

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