Follow live coverage as West Bromwich Albion face Birmingham City in the Championship today.
An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.
Relegation from the top flight last term means Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton are all back in the second tier this term and will be expected to push for play-off spots again at least, but so too will newly-promoted Birmingham City and Wrexham, with a host of hopefuls eyeing up the £200m jackpot that comes with promotion to the top flight. At the other end of the table, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City hope to stay up amid crises.
Follow updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
West Bromwich Albion FC 1 - 1 Birmingham City FC
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
22:03Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Birmingham City 1.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
22:02Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Birmingham City 1.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
22:00Substitution, Birmingham City. Marc Leonard replaces Jay Stansfield.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
22:00Foul by Patrick Roberts (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:59Attempt missed. Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:57Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:56Attempt saved. Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Josh Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:57Attempt saved. Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Josh Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion). Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:54Phil Neumann (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:52Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Alex Mowatt.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:53Attempt missed. Kyogo Furuhashi (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Patrick Roberts following a fast break.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:51Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Josh Maja replaces Aune Heggebø.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:50Attempt missed. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Samuel Iling-Junior with a cross.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:50Substitution, Birmingham City. Keshi Anderson replaces Demarai Gray because of an injury.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:49Substitution, Birmingham City. Kyogo Furuhashi replaces Marvin Ducksch.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:48Attempt missed. Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Paik Seung-Ho.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:46Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Krystian Bielik replaces Ousmane Diakité.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:46Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Samuel Iling-Junior replaces Karlan Grant.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:44Goal! West Bromwich Albion 1, Birmingham City 1. Marvin Ducksch (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tommy Doyle with a cross following a set piece situation.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:44Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:44Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:42Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Mikey Johnston.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:42Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Christoph Klarer.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:41Attempt blocked. Paik Seung-Ho (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Demarai Gray.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:41Attempt blocked. Paik Seung-Ho (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tommy Doyle.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:36Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by George Campbell.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:38Attempt blocked. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Paik Seung-Ho.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:35Attempt missed. Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Karlan Grant following a fast break.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:33Foul by Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:32Attempt missed. Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:35Attempt blocked. Christoph Klarer (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tommy Doyle.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:30Patrick Roberts (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:28Attempt blocked. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tomoki Iwata.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:26Foul by Paik Seung-Ho (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:25Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:23Delay in match because of an injury Phil Neumann (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:20Attempt missed. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Karlan Grant following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:20Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Phil Neumann.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:20Attempt blocked. Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ousmane Diakité.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:18Foul by Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:18Attempt saved. Aune Heggebø (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by James Beadle (Birmingham City). Assisted by George Campbell with a cross.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:15Patrick Roberts (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:13Attempt saved. Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion) header from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by James Beadle (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
21:11Second Half begins West Bromwich Albion 1, Birmingham City 0.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:49First Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Birmingham City 0.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:49Foul by Demarai Gray (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:47Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:47Alex Cochrane (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:43Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:40Attempt missed. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ousmane Diakité following a fast break.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:38Foul by Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:38Foul by Phil Neumann (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:34Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:34Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:33Foul by Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:33Foul by Christoph Klarer (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:33Offside, Birmingham City. Demarai Gray is caught offside.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:31Attempt blocked. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tommy Doyle.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:31Attempt missed. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left from a direct free kick.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:29Christoph Klarer (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:29Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:29Attempt saved. Marvin Ducksch (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Josh Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion). Assisted by Patrick Roberts with a cross.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:25Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Tomoki Iwata.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:24Attempt missed. Paik Seung-Ho (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Demarai Gray.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:23Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:17Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:16Delay in match because of an injury Demarai Gray (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:16Attempt saved. George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by James Beadle (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:16Attempt blocked. Aune Heggebø (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Styles with a cross.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:14Goal! West Bromwich Albion 1, Birmingham City 0. Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:14Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:11Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Ousmane Diakité replaces Toby Collyer because of an injury.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:11Delay in match because of an injury Toby Collyer (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:10Attempt saved. Callum Styles (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by James Beadle (Birmingham City). Assisted by Isaac Price.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:06Foul by Tommy Doyle (Birmingham City).
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:03Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Chris Mepham.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:02Attempt missed. Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Mikey Johnston following a fast break.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
20:01First Half begins.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City
18:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here. This season we're bringing you live coverage from every match in the Premier League, WSL, Championship, Carabao Cup and FA Cup from the third round onwards - as well as the best from the Champions League and beyond in Europe.
