Image source, Rex Features

Coventry's best move yet as Ben Sheaf plays a lovely one-two with Callum O'Hare in the Birmingham box.

Sheaf could have had a go at goal there, albeit from a tough angle, but his attempted cross is cut out for a corner that is cleared.

Siriki Dembele with the stepovers on Blues' left-hand side.

Slips the ball back to Lee Buchanan whose cross searches for Birmingham targetman Lukas Jutkiewicz but Jake Bidwell brilliantly heads clear.

Speaking of harsh decisions, Blues defender Marc Roberts seemed to win the ball from Ellis Simms.

But Coventry get a free-kick out wide as the referee disagrees.

Comes to nothing though as Blues clear.

Ian Clarkson
Ex-Birmingham captain on BBC Radio WM

Image source, Rex Features

It's a strong start from Birmingham. Coventry are looking nervous - they're trying to play it out from the back and not doing it very well.

When Birmingham are in the ascendancy, they have to make it count.

Image source, Rex Features

Juninho Bacuna is in the book early doors for a bit of a silly lunge on Coventry playmaker Callum O'Hare.

Not too much in it. Bit of a harsh yellow really. Foul but that was about it.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at the CBS Arena

Image source, PA Media

Two clubs, two Cities, both united in their dislike of one particular other club. Yes, the singing at kick-off has been loud from all parts of the ground.

All that and Mr Blue Sky, the pre-match song played by both clubs before matches. And it all adds up to a cracking derby atmosphere.

It's a bit on the parky side. But the early exchanges suggest that this will be a game to really warm everyone up!

Image source, Rex Features

Encouragement for Blues boss Wayne Rooney as his side pose the first problems.

Jay Stansfield is a box of tricks out on the left and the ball breaks for Krystian Bielik, whose 20-yard curler is straight at Coventry keeper Brad Collins.

Goals have been in short supply for both sides this season, 24 for Coventry in 19 games, and 23 for Blues.

The Sky Blues have brought in Ellis Simms while Blues have given ex-Coventry striker Lukas Jutkiewicz a start. Little sniff for either thus far.

J Staggs: Yes, Rooney's current record doesn't look great, but he's a born leader. He just needs to be given time and a decent amount of spending money to get the Blues back to where they belong.

Steve Ogrizovic
Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR

It's a fantastic atmosphere. It takes me back to April, when Coventry had to win to make the play-offs. The fans are so loud.

He's a tricky little player, Juninho Bacuna - but I'm not sure how much experience he has at right-back. He's not very big, so maybe Coventry have thought they'll play the ball there.

Birmingham in their black away kit - and they'll be hoping to leave Coventry black and blue tonight.

Signs of early aggression from the visitors, with the hosts spending the first couple of minutes mostly in their own half.

Image source, Rex Features

Looks like Birmingham have won the toss and decided to swap ends.

Dunno about you but I hate it when away teams do that! Agree with me? Hit the thumbs.

Anyway, Coventry get us under way.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United strikers of different eras in the respective dugouts tonight then - and at differing stages of their managerial careers as well, of course.

Mark Robins is the fifth longest-serving manager in the English professional leagues, leading Coventry out of their dark days to two promotions - almost three last season.

There has been little overreaction from supporters to his side's slight play-off final hangover - Sky Blues fans, I assume you still trust in the man who has taken you so far over the past six and a half years?

And Blues followers, how are you feeling a few weeks into Wayne Rooney's reign after the shock call to sack John Eustace? Let us know via the methods above.

Image source, Getty Images

• Coventry City are unbeaten in their past seven league games against Birmingham City (W2 D5) since a 1-0 defeat in August 2011.
• Birmingham are winless in their past five away Championship games against Coventry (D3 L2), failing to score in four of those five games.
• Coventry have lost just one of their past 12 home league games (W5 D6), and are looking to record three successive clean sheets on home soil in the same campaign for the first time since November 2022.
• Birmingham have lost each of their past seven away league games, their longest run since February 1994 (run of 11).
• Coventry have benefited from more own goals than any other side in the Championship this season (4), however they’ve only won one of the four games in which they’ve occurred (D2 L1).

One major plus point of the past few weeks for Coventry has been the return of playmaker Callum O'Hare after several months out with an ACL injury.

Former Aston Villa trainee O'Hare has been nursed back to full fitness with five substitute appearances, before being recalled to the starting line-up at Ipswich.

"It'll take a bit of time for him to get back up to speed but what a speed it is when he does," said Robins. "And there were certainly some good signs."

"I'm just focused now on getting on the pitch, being at my best and getting sharp," O'Hare told BBC CWR.

"We had some bad results before the two back-to-back wins but you could see we were creating chances - and the ball just hasn't been going in for us."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Coventry City

Speaking of the stadium struggles Coventry had, news broke this week that the man who played a large part in their return to their home city is leaving the club.

Chief executive Dave Boddy is to depart in January after almost seven years at Coventry. He arrived in February 2017, just weeks before Mark Robins' return as manager.

In that time they have enjoyed three trips to Wembley, two promotions and the lifting of the EFL Trophy.

Most importantly, Boddy helped see the club to the end of their long-running stadium rent row - and to a takeover.

Read more here - and for more on his replacement John Taylor, who arrives via Nottingham Forest, head here.

While there will be no favours granted on the pitch tonight, Coventry owe their visitors a debt of gratitude for aiding them in their hour of need a few years back.

The Sky Blues made Birmingham's St Andrew's ground their temporary home for two seasons between 2019-21 after being virtually evicted from the then Ricoh Arena.

It was a happy home for them too - Coventry won the League One title in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC local radio

Unfortunately, rights restrictions mean we are unable to bring you live radio commentary on this page tonight.

But, if like me, you're lucky enough to live in the wonderful West Midlands or Warwickshire, you'll be able to tune in on your wireless.

Fans in the Birmingham and Black Country areas can listen via BBC Radio WM, while those in Coventry and Warwickshire are able to enjoy BBC CWR commentary.

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM commentator

The hope is that it's only a minor problem for Dion Sanderson and for Cody Drameh, who would have been playing at right-back instead of Ethan Laird.

Losing Laird for six to eight weeks was bad news. Losing these other two - the rumours grew today that they weren't going to be here - leaves Birmingham very thin. The squad is nowhere near as strong as Wayne Rooney would ideally like it to be for this game.

It might force them to play on the front foot, as they did at Blackburn in their last away game. Their lack of defensive security away from home isn't being helped by the injuries.

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham City boss Wayne Rooney admits his side need "more leaders" after a disappointing start to his Blues reign.

Rooney's side have lost five of his opening eight matches in charge, winning just one - against bottom team Sheffield Wednesday - to drop into the bottom half of the table.

"The players have been great and tried to take information in but sometimes in games you have to be ready to adjust and adapt because the game very rarely goes the way you plan," he told BBC Radio WM.

"At times, players take what we are asking them to do really literally but, ultimately on a football pitch, things change every second.

"We are a young team, not the most experienced, and I'm always asking the players to be more vocal, communicate more because that's a really key part of the game.

"You need four or five players on the pitch who are going to do that and be the leaders in the team - if we can get that, that can help massively."