Image source, Getty Images

After coming on and scoring the equaliser on Tuesday, Lyndon Dykes is brought back into the QPR starting XI this evening for his first start since the win over Cardiff more than a month ago.

The Scot is the only change boss Gareth Ainsworth has made to the team this evening.

QPR: Begovic, Kakay, Cook, Fox, Paal, Dozzell, Field, Smyth, Chair, Armstrong, Dykes.

Subs: Walsh, Clarke-Salter, Larkeche, Adomah, Dixon-Bonner, Duke-McKenna, Willock, Kelman, Kolli.

Image source, Rex Features

Birmingham manager John Eustace has made three changes from the team that lost to Preston on Tuesday.

Lee Buchanan comes in to the defence after serving a suspension, Juninho Bacuna makes his first start in three games and Scott Hogan starts after coming on from the bench midweek.

Siriki Dembele is on the bench having missed the last five weeks due to a hamstring injury and Lukas Jutkiewicz is also among the subs after serving a three-game red card ban.

Birmingham: Ruddy, Drameh, Sanderson, Long, Buchanan, Bielek, Bacuna, Hogan, Miyoshi, Anderson, Stansfield.

Subs: Etheridge, Longelo, Aiwu, James, Gardner, Sunjic, Burke, Dembele, Jutkiewicz

Image source, Get

After a season to forget last year, QPR are still trying to find their groove this campaign with two wins, one draw and four losses from their opening seven games.

Lyndon Dykes' injury-time equaliser against Swansea on Tuesday night earned his side a vital point and you imagine relieved some of the pressure falling on boss Gareth Ainsworth's shoulders.

Ainsworth has only won five of 21 matches since taking over in February but said after the Swans game that despite the "bad feelings" around the club "things are slowly starting to turn around".

Some more points tonight would certainly help his cause.

After a buoyant start to the season, Birmingham’s results have stalled of late with a draw and two defeats in their last three games.

There's been little time for John Eustace's side to dwell on the results, with this being their third game in seven days since the losses to Watford on Saturday and leaders Preston on Tuesday.

Eustace spent years as assistant boss at QPR and he hosts his former side at least with the knowledge that his Birmingham team are unbeaten at home this season.

Image source, Getty Images

We can't hide from it any longer. The evenings are getting darker, the nights are getting cooler and with the end of September in our sights, autumn is officially upon us.

So settle into the comfy chair, get cosy, put your feet up and let's welcome in the weekend with a little Friday night football action.

We have one game from the Championship to bring you this evening between Birmingham and QPR, two teams not in any sort of form.

Kick-off is in 15 minutes so let's get going...