Welcome to live text commentary of Stoke City versus Birmingham City from the Britannia Stadium.

That was a chance for Stoke. A good chance. Whitehead brings Stoke clear. Wide to Pennant and Foster makes a good, clean catch.

CHANCE FOR STOKE!!! Pennant crosses from the right and Jones jumps. The ball bounces narrowly wide from eight yards out.

Good move from the Blues. Gardner, Jerome, Ferguson all involved. The ball to the far post is headed back by Zigic but Begovic claims.

Larsson has a dig from 25 yards on the half-volley but it doesn't dip enough. Goal kick.

Begovic goes long for Jones. Dann clears. Zigic handballs and Faye will take the free-kick midway in the Stoke half. Pennant goes to cross from the right. Cleared and Fuller fouls Ridgewell.

The Stoke back four are looking to hit Fuller and Jones early. Birmingham want to play through midfield but aren't able to yet.

Zigic flicks it wide left to Beausejou back to Ridgewell but it goes out for a throw in the right-back position. Huth takes. Stoke get a throw on halfway.

Bit of head-tennis before Stoke get the ball down. Higginbottom looks long for Jones but Johnson clears. Stoke have a throw on the left. Collins takes. And the ball continues to generate air miles.

Stoke get the first throw of the night after Foster's clearance booms up field.

Birmingham City kick us off from right to left.

Almost time for the off. The Britannia is beginning to jump - although that might just be to get warm.

There's another game in the Premier League tonight.

Both teams are ready to come out onto the field of play. It's a bit chilly. Any guesses on the amount of glove-wearers?

Both Alex McLeish and Tony Pulis have set their sides up for 4-4-2. This could be a Tuesday night cracker.

The Britannia Stadium is a fantastic stadium for atmosphere. Hopefully with Birmingham only being down the road there'll be plenty of Blues' fans voicing their support too.

STATS: Birmingham enjoyed a slightly better afternoon at St Andrews as they fought out a

STATS: Stoke had a nightmare trip to the north-east at the weekend. Not only did they lose Ryan Shawcross to a red card but they also

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear) - I can see Tony Pulis jumping up and down for joy from here.

Stoke: Begovic, Huth, Faye, Higginbotham, Collins, Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Jones, Fuller Subs: Subs: Sorensen, Whelan, Gudjohnsen, Wilson, Walters, Sanli, Wilkinson /// Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Dann, Johnson, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Beausejour, Jerome, Zigic Subs: Subs: Doyle, Bowyer, Phillips, Derbyshire, Fahey, Parnaby, Hleb

Team news to follow...

STATS: A victory for Birmingham would enable them to gate-crash the Premier League top 10 at the expense of West Brom.