Image source, Rex Features

Well I can hear my father-in-law-to-be dancing around singing in the kitchen below me, so that signifies that was great for Steven Schumacher and Stoke City.

Wayne Rooney and Jay Stansfield have not 100% enjoyed their last four days of football against Plymouth Argyle personnel.

Now let me Harry Everett hand over to Alex Hoad, who will build you up to second-placed Ipswich against league leaders Leicester in the Christmas Tree star/angel/insert here whatever you put atop your tree of 2023's Boxing Day Championship offering. Enjoy!

Angela Smith
BBC Radio Stoke

I don't think Stoke fans will struggle getting back up to Stoke via the M6 tonight because there is nobody here.

What a performance from Stoke, they thoroughly deserved the three points, you can only beat what is in front of you.

As you look at the players, virtually every one to a man has gone to the away supporters, it's a team that looks united.

If I was to put my money on which of the two teams will finish higher at the end of the season, I would go for Stoke.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City get their first three points since the 28th October as Steven Schumacher gets the better of his old Everton youth team-mate Wayne Rooney in England's second city this evening.

Jordan Thompson, Lynden Gooch and Andre Vidigal with the Stoke goals, Jay Stansfield scored again for Birmingham, but no undershirt reveal today - a pretty poor night for the home side who are now dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Today's fixture marks the start of the second half of the season, and the Potters knew that a win by a two-goal margin would move them above their hosts in the Championship table.

They have all but done it in front of a sold out away end with over 1,900 supporters at St. Andrew’s.

Stoke just holding on here as Birmingham throw some last ditch punches at the Potters.

Not quite Anthony Joshua level though as the Staffordshire side deal with them comfortably enough.

Angela Smith
BBC Radio Stoke

You can't fault Jack Bonham tonight, his handling has been very good.

Stoke have done well since Birmingham scored.

Seven minutes!!

Not sure it's professional for me to screenshot our MS Teams chat but I just guessed there might be exactly seven minutes injury time given for Wayne Rooney's side to get back in this!

Another Potters change: Daniel Johnson takes the third goalscorer Andre Vidigal's spot as a Brummy throw in is delayed.

Bae Jun-Ho is booked for kicking the ball away after a throw-in had already been given against Stoke City.

Sloppy, unnecessary and really would not have benefited his team much time around the halfway line anyway.

Shout for a penalty, but nothing more, barely worth a mention, but you know football fans like to get very excited over any even 1% chance of a spot-kick in this modern era of football.

We have a brief stoppage for a Stoke injury, but they are just ticking the clock down now really trying to not let the home side have enough time to get back in this.

A rare Stoke corner (Birmingham have had five) causes problems for John Ruddy.

A miscued clearance cannons into the former Norwich stopper and Ruddy's unknowing touch gives Stoke another corner they do not benefit from.

Wayne Rooney makes his third change and his fourth and fifth all at the same time, and sensibly so in my eyes, though a nightmare for the fourth official and me trying to type six names quickly...

Their goalscorer Jay Stansfield is surprisingly withdrawn, as is Siriki Dembele and Ivan Sunjic.

Oliver Burke, Gary Gardner and Keshi Anderson come on.

Stoke free-kick from the right does not have enough height or distance on it, you would expect better in youth football, but they are still 3-1 up so there are few complaints.

Birmingham readying another change...

Image source, Rex Features

Mark in Coventry: As a Blues fan from a Villa family; this is tough to take.

Anon: Speaking as a neutral, how long before serious questions are asked of Rooney at board level? Is he immune as he’s their man? Or does survival instinct kick in eventually?

You do not become one of the world's top-ranked squash players without knowing your balls from your onions, so Stoke's players better heed Angela's warnings...

Birmingham are getting back into this you know, what an impact Romelle Donovan has had... why did Wayne Rooney not bring him on earlier!?

Angela Smith
BBC Radio Stoke

Ki-Jana Hoever made the mistake that gave them the chance.

It's unfortunate because Stoke deserve to be three goals ahead and now Birmingham have one back, they have nothing to lose.

Another goal could change the complexion of this match completely.

Stoke respond with a double change:

Ben Pearson and Dwight Gayle on for Wouter Burger and Ryan Mmaee.

Substitution for the home side;

Romelle Donovan on for Koji Miyoshi.

Stoke nearly have a fourth as the outside of the post is rattled!

Junior Tchamadeu does not have a lot on so absolutely whams it from the right side of the box, it was not ever going in, but makes a good noise off the exterior of the post.