Birmingham City face a crunch Championship clash against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough this evening.

Blues need to put some distance between themselves and the relegation places and a victory over the Owls, currently 23rd in the table, would go a long way. Tony Mowbray has already sealed one win at Hillsborough this season during his time as Sunderland manager.

When the two teams met at St Andrew’s in November, Blues clinched a narrow comeback victory - one of just two wins they managed in 15 games under Wayne Rooney. Mowbray’s record in the Championship as Blues manager reads one win, one draw and one defeat to date.

Wednesday picked up some valuable wins over Christmas but their form has dipped again in recent weeks. They have taken one point from their last four matches and suffered a 4-0 defeat to relegation rivals Huddersfield Town last weekend. Danny Rohl’s team were also put to the sword by Coventry City in midweek as they exited the FA Cup.

Blues reporter Alex Dicken will bring you live updates and analysis from Hillsborough…

It's all over

A brace from Ike Ugbo saw Sheffield Wednesday defeat Birmingham City 2-0 and drag Tony Mowbray’s side closer to the scrap at the bottom of the Championship.

Blues had the chance to put breathing space between themselves and relegation battle. If anything, they joined the conversation. Pressure on two big games next week now.

Final Blues change

Keshi Anderson has replaced Dozzell for the final 15 minutes plus stoppages.

Blues fans in the away end still belting out Keep Right On. The support tonight has been first class when the team has been anything but that on the pitch.

Two more Blues changes

Two more changes: Laird and Dembele replaced by Miyoshi and Tyler Roberts.

Laird was too passive for Wednesday's second goal. He let Johnson cross the ball way too easily.

Dembele has shown good skills at times but no end product.

Wednesday have a second (54)

Ugbo has done it again. Marvin Johnson hung a cross up to the far post and Ugbo climbed above Buchanan to head in.

In fairness to Buchanan, he stood no chance of getting off the ground with Ugbo's knee in his back.

Mowbray made two changes straight after the goal. Jay Stansfield is on for Scott Hogan and Paik Seung-ho replaces Ivan Sunjic.

Second half underway

As things stand, Blues are only six points ahead 23rd-placed Sheffield Wednesday. Mowbray's men need to turn this around in the second half.

Blues' top scorer Jay Stansfield has removed his tracksuit and is now warming up on the touchline. He could be imminent if things don't change quickly.

HT: Sheff Weds 1-0 Blues

Blues have been toothless in attack once again. Ugbo's goal the difference and he could have had another. Big second half coming up.

Beadle made a decent save from a deflected Dembele strike shortly before half-time and Hogan glanced a header wide from the resulting corner. Blues need to work the Wednesday goalkeeper more.

The same pattern continues

Blues have continued to dominate this match since Wednesday took the lead against the run of play.

Hogan is making lots of runs but Blues' other attackers don't seem interested in finding him. Bacuna, Dembele and James are trying to combine and work their own shooting opportunities instead.

Kevin Long has just taken a whack on the ankle but looks as though he will continue.

Wednesday lead (16)

Wow. Wednesday have scored. Ugbo slots underneath Etheridge from a pull-back. Dozzell beaten inside the box.

Blues had been in total control of this match and peppering Beadle's goal. Another sucker-punch for Tony Mowbray's team.

Bacuna shoots over

Bacuna fires over! Lovely, powerful run from JJ down the left. He played it to Dembele who found Bacuna but his shot flew over. Nice move from Blues.

That showed James' running power from deep. He left two Sheffield Wednesday defenders in his wake before feeding the ball through to Dembele.

Bannan booked early

Sheffield Wednesday captain - and ex-Villa midfielder - Barry Bannan is booked inside four minutes for bringing down Dembele. Cheers and chants of "Dirty Villa b******" from the away end.

Blues pressed for an opener from the resulting free-kick. A corner was forced and Dozzell's delivery caused Wednesday problems but Long couldn't force it home from close range.

And we're off

Sheffield Wednesday have kicked off at Hillsborough. There is a very good atmosphere inside this stadium tonight.

Blues are in their red away strip with black shorts and will kick towards their own fans in the second half.

Sheffield Wednesday fans are using this televised game to protest against their owner Dejphon Chansiri.

Stansfield's absence

The omission of Jay Stansfield from the starting XI has caught a few of us by surprise.

Stansfield has apparently been taken out the team due to his workload. With two more games coming at St Andrew's next week, it makes sense to give the striker a rest now.

He is still expected to play some part at Hillsborough from the bench.

Jay Stansfield in action for Birmingham City

Wednesday team news

Sheffield Wednesday have made a raft of changes from their midweek FA Cup defeat to Coventry City.

A host of senior players return to the starting line-up for tonight's Championship clash. Ex-Aston Villa player Barry Bannan is in the XI, as is Birmingham-born Marvin Johnson, but former Blues defender Kristian Pedersen is on the bench.

Blues team news

Tony Mowbray has made three changes to his Blues XI to play Sheffield Wednesday. Juninho Bacuna, Jordan James and Scott Hogan start in place of Koji Miyoshi, Alex Pritchard and Jay Stansfield. Miyoshi and Stansfield are on the bench.

Cody Drameh returns to the bench after two games out with a toe injury. Gary Gardner has also made the trip to Hillsborough.

(4-2-3-1): Etheridge; Laird, Bielik, Long, Buchanan; Dozzell, Sunjic; Bacuna, James, Dembele; Hogan

Subs: Mayo, M Roberts, Drameh, Gardner, Paik, Miyoshi, Anderson, T Roberts, Stansfield

Scott Hogan and Neil Etheridge of Birmingham City

A stab at the team

My predicted XIs have been slightly out recently but I've had a crack/guess at Tony Mowbray's XI tonight.

Will Kevin Long keep his place in defence? Who will be the midfield two? Will Paik Seung-ho make his first Blues start?

Check out my predicted XI HERE

Paik Seung-ho in action on his Birmingham City debut against West Bromwich Albion

John Eustace takes charge at Blackburn

Some significant news in the Championship pre-match is that John Eustace has taken over as head coach at Blackburn Rovers following the departure of Jon Dahl Tomasson. Eustace has signed a two-and-a-half year contract at Ewood Park and will be assisted by Matt Gardiner, who worked under him at Blues.

Eustace will watch Blackburn's game against Stoke City, meaning his first game in charge will come at St Andrew's against Blues on Tuesday. Blues owner Tom Wagner is also scheduled to be at St Andrew's for Tuesday's match.

Rovers are currently one place above Blues in the Championship table.

“I am looking forward to being at Ewood Park tomorrow and meeting the supporters, who can play a big part for us between now and the end of the season," said Eustace.

“I will give my all to ensure the fans have a team they can be proud of and, together, I hope we can quickly start climbing the table.”

John Eustace

Hello and welcome

Good evening from a bitterly cold Hillsborough. There was some doubt earlier in the week over whether this game would go ahead due to the snow and rainfall they endured in Sheffield. But here we are, under the lights at one of English football's oldest stadiums, ready for a Championship clash.

The pitch looks poor and won't play to the strengths of Tony Mowbray's Blues, who are trying to get the ball down and play. It doesn't look particularly wet though, which should be viewed as a positive considering how much rain we've had.