Image source, Rex Features

Burnley might be winning but they know they're in a game here.

Birmingham have only lost one of their past seven games and should they be the team to end the Clarets' unbeaten start to the campaign at Turf Moor they'll end the day in the play-off spots.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Turf Moor

A sensational start by Burnley.

A beautifully worked goal - and a stunning finish.

And the noise all but lifted the roof off the stand.

But was there a foul on Blues midfielder Krystian Bielik in the build-up?

The Birmingham City ranks certainly seemed to think so.

Burnley look so dangerous when they come forward.

Manuel Benson curls in a tempting inswinging cross that is headed over for a corner to the home side.

A neat corner routine is eventually worked to Josh Brownhill but his low centre is cut out.

I feel like there's a good chance Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric plays more short passes in a single game than his predecessor Nick Pope played in his entire time with the club.

He's just played a one-two with Jack Cork in his area that would have made what's left of Sean Dyche's hair fall out.

It's a sellout at Turf Moor this evening and the vast majority are loving what they are seeing so far.

Both teams are looking to go forward at any given opportunity and it looks like the makings of a great encounter.

Paul Weller
Former Burnley midfielder on BBC Radio Lancashire

What a breakaway - that is how to attack at its best.

Potentially a dubious decision by the referee not to give Birmingham a foul on the edge of the Burnley box but they then broke with pace and numbers.

It's a great little inside pass from Connor Roberts and Anass Zaroury finishes it nicely.

We are under way at Turf Moor.

I'll be charitable and say the conditions are... tricky.

A win for the home side will send them 11 points clear of third-placed Blackburn.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on all things EFL.

What do you make of Norwich's decision to sack Dean Smith? If you're a Canaries fan, who would you like to see replace the former Villa boss?

You can get in touch using #bbcefl on Twitter.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Turf Moor

Image source, Ged Scott - BBC Sport

Once upon a time, Burnley's pre-match press room was famed for its pie and peas.

Times have moved on at Turf Moor though - and, after spending so long in the Premier League, they have now gastronomically diversified.

Curry - and with a veggie option too.

Bad news for any pie lovers in town. But, on a night as foul as this, all that's really required is something hot. As it also happens to be very tasty too, no damage done then. And very gratefully received.

Image source, Ged Scott - BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

In this evening's earlier match Reading boosted their play-off hopes with a 2-1 win over Swansea.

The Royals took the lead through Andy Carroll's strike before Yakou Meite missed the chance to make it 2-0 before the break when he smashed a penalty over the crossbar.

Tom Ince did double the home side's advantage after the break though before Liam Cullen pulled a goal back for the visitors.

The win lifted Paul Ince's men from 16th to eighth, the Swans, who are now winless in eight, slip to 16th.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Turf Moor

When Birmingham City and Burnley met at St Andrew’s back in October, Clarets boss Vincent Kompany said John Eustace’s side were as tough an opponent as they’d faced this season.

After a 1-1 draw that night, which could so easily have been three home points, Blues now have another chance to impress the Championship leaders - and the stats say they have the players to get another result in wintry, rain-lashed Lancashire.

They have conceded just 10 goals in the 10 games on their travels. Only second-placed Sheffield United, the meanest defence in the Championship, have a better record.

Image source, Nick Potts - PA Media

And, with men like Auston Trusty, Troy Deeney and Burnley old boy Lukas Jutkiewicz in their ranks, they are a real threat from set-pieces.

Not including penalties - and not counting a couple of goals that have come from the second phase after a free-kick or corner was half-cleared - Blues have scored six times from dead ball situations in their last 11 games.

In a season that began with a takeover about to happen and a new manager just three weeks into the job, it all explains how Eustace had got Blues into the top half of the Championship by Christmas - with a dressing room that is very much together, the fans on-side, and a reputation that is growing by the week. As the respectful Kompany has already pointed out.

Burnley welcome back Morocco international forward Anass Zaroury after he helped his nation to a fourth-placed finish at the Qatar World Cup.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Birmingham go with the same XI that started the win over Reading last time out.

Image source, Rex Features

As if clubs aren't busy enough on the pitch at this time of year the managerial merry-go-round is still in full flow.

Earlier today, Norwich became the 13th team in the Championship to change manager this season.

The Canaries sacked Dean Smith after a run of just three wins in 13 league matches.

Smith publicly questioned the attitude of some fans after the home defeat by Blackburn on 17 December and said playing away was better for his side.

"I think a lot of them have been waiting for this period to happen, or wanting it to - I don't know," he told BBC Radio Norfolk at the time.

Monday's 2-1 defeat at Luton was a third defeat in four and ultimately brought an end to his time in charge of the Carrow Road side.

Image source, Rex Features

A huge amount has been made of just how tight the Championship is this season.

However, there are two notable exceptions.

Table-topping Burnley and Sheffield United are both 12 points clear of third-placed Blackburn.

Indeed, a win tonight would see the Clarets go 11 points clear of Rovers, which is two more points than Rovers have over 17th-placed Stoke.

Standing in their way are an in-form Birmingham side who start the evening in 15th place but could end it in 5th.

Good evening and welcome to live text coverage of Burnley v Birmingham City.