Thanks for joining us for another midweek offering of Championship football - a productive one for Middlesbrough, not so good for those of a Birmingham City persuasion.

We've got a much fuller programme on Saturday afternoon, with nine Championship games, so make sure you head this way again to keep up with all the action!

Until then, good night!

Here's the congested foot of the Championship table - and Birmingham have failed to take advantage of their game in hand.

The Blues stay 21st, just a point above the bottom three.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here's the updated top half of the Championship table after Middlesbrough's third victory in six days... and you have to say Michael Carrick's men are very much in the play-off conversation all of a sudden.

Five points behind sixth-placed Norwich and Boro's next game, at home to struggling Blackburn on Saturday, is one they'll certainly fancy.

Image source, BBC Sport

Darren Carter
Ex-Birmingham midfielder on BBC Radio WM

It’s not for the want of trying, it just has not been Birmingham’s night. It hasn’t happened at all. I don’t think you’ve seen a team that aren’t trying, you’ve just seen a lack of confidence.

Image source, PA Media

No late drama this time... although Middlesbrough had to survive nine extra minutes, they did it with ease.

Boro climb to ninth with their third win in a row, Birmingham are now without a win in five games and stay 21st.

Boro are looking to grind out this result here as they close on their third victory in six days, one which would really reignite their hopes of a play-off push.

A scare just now for the visitors as Seny Dieng spills a cross under pressure from Lukas Jutkiewicz, but Boro defender Rav van den Berg helps him out by scrambling the loose ball to safety and it remains 1-0.

We're approaching the witching hour now (in footballing terms, anyway) and Birmingham have just shaken the dice for the final time and come up with Tyler Roberts, who's on for Alex Pritchard.

Roberts hasn't yet found the net for the Blues - now would certainly be a good time to change that if they're going to get anything from this game.

Darren Carter
Ex-Birmingham midfielder on BBC Radio WM

Image source, Rex Features

It just hasn’t happened for Birmingham so far. Passes haven’t reached their destination and it’s been sloppy. The one thing to cling to is that they’re still in this game. It only takes a moment and there’s plenty on the pitch to create that moment. It’s only 1-0 and anything can happen.

Riley McGree's work is done for this evening - the ex-Birmingham man, who's scored the only goal so far, is replaced by Finn Azaz.

He follows Sam Greenwood, who came on a few minutes earlier in place of Marcus Forss as Middlesbrough go in search of their third straight win.

We mentioned the banner in support of Birmingham manager Tony Mowbray earlier - and of course, it's worth mentioning that his temporary stand-in, Mark Venus, also had a spell in charge of Middlesbrough more than a decade ago.

Venus led Boro for three games after Mowbray's departure, with an evenly spaced record of one win, one draw and one defeat.

He's yet to collect a victory as Blues' caretaker boss, though. Still another 20 minutes, plus added time, to change that - and Venus has just played what's often proved to be a trump card for Birmingham, sending on Lukas Jutkiewicz in place of Jordan James.

Darren Carter
Ex-Birmingham midfielder on BBC Radio WM

Middlesbrough are getting so many bodies back. At the moment it's not looking great for Blues.

They're going to have to look to a Juninho Bacuna or someone of that ilk to unlock that door because at the minute it's a sea of red shirts around the box.

Calvin Andrew
Ex-Rochdale, Mansfield and Port Vale forward on Squad Goals

Believe it or not, referees have hamstrings too!

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM commentator at St Andrew's

By my reckoning that's been about four minutes that that has taken.

Another substitution at St Andrew's - but not for either Birmingham or Middlesbrough.

Instead, it's referee Andy Davies who is leaving the field, although the reason isn't immediately clear.

Either way, that means a run-out for fourth official Jeremy Simpson. He's given a few ironic cheers as he emerges from the tunnel to take on refereeing duties - well, the officials always fill the role of pantomime villains, don't they?We'll have plenty of time added on at the end, you'd think.

Darren Carter
Ex-Birmingham midfielder on BBC Radio WM

Image source, PA Media

It doesn't look like Blues have the physicality or the height to trouble Middlesbrough, especially with their back three.

They've packed out their six-yard box.

Recent games involving Birmingham suggest we might well get some late drama this evening.

During the Blues' past five games, there have been six goals inside the final 10 minutes - including that crazy 4-3 defeat to Southampton here just 10 days ago.

No sign of anything dramatic so far in this second period, but still plenty of time left.

Can Birmingham turn this around?

They've made a double change at the break, with Juninho Bacuna and George Hall coming off the bench.

Koji Miyoshi and Andre Dozzell are the players to make way.

Darren Carter
Ex-Birmingham midfielder on BBC Radio WM

The word is frustrating. Blues never got into any rhythm.

The answer is not to go direct and force play, you've got to try and play through. them.

In the wider areas a tweak might help but Blues have turned the ball over so much.

They've got to be better but make more space and make it more difficult for Boro in the second half.

And here's the lay of the land at the bottom.

Birmingham will be looking over their shoulders at the bottom three if they don't pick up points in their game in hand against Middlesbrough tonight.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here's how things look at the top of the table at the break.

Middlesbrough are up to ninth as it stands and five points off the play-offs if they can see out victory against Birmingham this evening.

Image source, BBC Sport