Birmingham City – Chelsea

1. Join us at 12.45 UK to see if Birmingham can keep their good run going with a result against Premier League leaders Chelsea.

2. Hello and welcome to the live commentary for the Boxing Day lunchtime match between Birmingham and Chelsea.

3. Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez. Subs: Maik Taylor, Phillips, Fahey, McSheffrey, Damien Johnson, Carsley, Vignal.

4. Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Belletti, Mikel, Malouda, Lampard, Drogba, Sturridge. Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Joe Cole, Ballack, Zhirkov, Paulo Ferreira, Kalou.

5. Sturridge gets the nod ahead of Kalou for Chelsea as Carlo Ancelotti prepares to lose both Drogba and Kalou to the ANC. Alex also starts ahead of Carvalho at the back, while Belletti and Malouda are in midfield with Ballack and Joe Cole on the bench.

6. Birmingham use Roger Johnson at centre back while Alex McLeish keeps faith with his positive 4-4-2 line-up, with Benitez and Jerome up front and McFadden lending attacking support from midfield.

7. Chelsea have been struggling for form in recent weeks while Birmingham have performed above all expectations. Nonetheless, Chelsea are four points clear of United at the top while Birmingham are 13 behind in seventh and Chelsea are definite favourites.

8. The players are now out on the pitch and it's a packed house at St Andrew's.

9. 1'

   The match is underway!

10. 1'

    Jerome provides an early test for the Chelsea defence as he gets behind Alex but fails to hit the target from close in!

11. 2'

    Chelsea force a corner through Lampard following an Ivanovic throw into the box.

12. 3'

    Dann heads away the ball into the box but Chelsea keep the pressure on.

13. 3'

    Malouda drives a cross in from the left, but Hart saves easily.

14. 4'

    The ball is currently stuck in the midfield.

15. 5'

    Drogba brilliantly supplies Belletti, but the midfielder can't get a clean shot away. Great invention from Drogba using his heel.

16. 6'

    Ivanovic fires a tame shot wide.

17. 7'

    Larsson does well to deal with a ball by the corner flag. Chelsea throw-in.

18. 8'

    Birmingham get it clear.

19. 8'

    McFadden chips a ball down the left flank for Benitez, but it's not a problem for Chelsea.

20. 10'

    Sturridge nearly nicks in on goal as Ivanovic puts a deflected cross in. Chelsea corner.

21. 11'

    Ivanovic heads just over! Carr can't jump high enough and the Chelsea defender was close to hitting the target.

22. 11'

    McFadden wins a corner as his attempt at a pull-back in the cross is cut out.

23. 12'

    Cech eventually gathers the loose ball in the area after some miskicks in the Chelsea area.

24. 14'

    Benitez produces some skill to beat two Chelsea players before being brought down by Alex. Birmingham free-kick in a potentially dangerous position.

25. 15'

    Larsson's free-kick comes back off the wall.

26. 15'

    Chelsea win a corner as Ferguson puts the ball out of play.

27. 15'

    Alex heads tamely towards Hart from the corner.

28. 16'

    Birmingham stand firm as Drogba looks to create something before Malouda and Sturridge run out of space.

29. 17'

    Lampard fires well over the bar with an ambitious long-range shot.

30. 18'

    Cech lets the ball run out of play as it deflects off a Birmingham player back towards his goal.

31. 18'

    Sturridge chips in for Belletti to head against the side netting from a very tight angle.

32. 19'

    McFadden sends in a woeful cross from the left after a great link-up with Jerome on the flank.

33. 20'

    Lampard sees a shot blocked on the edge of the area.

34. 22'

    Sturridge gets a header on target, but it's a simple save for Hart.

35. 22'

    Drogba fires just wide as he looks to guide the ball on target from Ivanovic's chip into the area. Great effort.

36. 23'

    Hart denies Sturridge with an excellent low save from Sturridge's controlled drive.

37. 24'

    Alex wins the ball from the corner but Johnson blocks the effort without much trouble.

38. 24'

    Larsson plays an intelligent ball over the top for Benitez, but it's given - perhaps harshly - offside.

39. 26'

    Chelsea are on the attack but Birmingham are working hard to keep them at bay.

40. 26'

    Bowyer is fouled and Birmingham have a chance to send a ball into the box.

41. 26'

    Johnson heads across the face of goal, but Cech gathers.

42. 28'

    Lampard has a glorious chance as he fires a shot on goal from inside the area, but Hart produces a fine save to push the ball wide.

43. 29'

    Malouda's corner is cleared, but Chelsea win it back and Sturridge sees a shot blocked. Birmingham counter but it's given offside.

44. 30'

    Ridgewell plays a potentially dangerous ball for Benitez, but Terry deals with it well.

45. 30'

    Belletti concedes a free-kick out on the left. Larsson will look to whip this in.

46. 31'

    It's a high inswinger and Cech punches away.

47. 31'

    Birmingham have a goal ruled out! Ridgewell plays it across the face of goal and Benitez taps it in, but it's given offside. That looked a legitimate goal.

48. 32'

    It appears the officials may have made the right decision on second viewing, although that was very, very close.

49. 33'

    Drogba completely miscues a shot amid a chorus of boos. He was down injured and the man who could have played Benitez on.

50. 34'

    Cole heads a cross away from Larsson's head well. The ball comes back in from the right but Ridgewell heads over.

51. 35'

    Malouda hits a shot on the turn but it's poorly hit.

52. 36'

    Ashley Cole puts the ball out of play for a Birmingham corner.

53. 37'

    The corner seems to catch Chelsea out as it comes into the near post and they win another.

54. 37'

    McFadden puts it in again and there are appeals for a handball, but they were optimistic.

55. 38'

    The assistant flags for a Birmingham free-kick in a dangerous position, but the referee gives a free-kick the other way.

56. 39'

    Drogba moves into the area and finds Sturridge, who chips back across goal for his strike-partner. Dann does well, though, and Drogba is punished for a push.

57. 40'

    Bowyer bundles over Malouda midway into the Birmingham half.

58. 41'

    Alex fires a fierce shot and it cannons back off the bar!

59. 41'

    Terry denies Jerome as he races down the left on the counter following a Chelsea corner.

60. 42'

    Birmingham take a goal kick after a loose ball over the top. Both sides will probably be happy to see the arrival of half-time.

61. 43'

    Terry makes a foray down the left flank, but he's given no space and eventually the ball goes out for a goal kick.

62. 45'

    McFadden loses possession by the left corner flag as Birmingham look to create space for an attack.

63. 46'

    There will be two minutes' added time.

64. 46'

    Malouda swings a free-kick in from out on the right and Belletti heads on goal, but Hart gathers.

65. 47'

    Chelsea break down the left but the cross into the area is easily headed clear.

66. 47'

    Sturridge misses a superb chance! Drogba gets in behind and puts the ball across the face, but Sturridge misses the target at the far post!

67. 47'

    It's half time. There have been chances for both sides and Alex McLeish will have reason to be unhappy with the disallowed goal, but Chelsea have been on top for the most part.

68. 46'

    Chelsea get the second half underway.

69. 46'

    Hart just claims a long ball as it deflects through with Drogba lurking.

70. 47'

    Both sides are struggling to put passes together at the start of the second half.

71. 48'

    Cech gathers a long, aimless ball up the field.

72. 49'

    Terry concedes a corner, but protests heavily.

73. 49'

    The corner is headed clear.

74. 50'

    Malouda slips the ball through for Sturridge, but Hart does well to claim it from his feet.

75. 52'

    Birmingham win a free-kick and will look to drop this into the area.

76. 52'

    Larsson's free-kick comes straight back out off Malouda, who looked to be less than ten yards away.

77. 53'

    Lee Bowyer nearly finds himself in on goal as he looks to collect a ball over the top, but Cech is there.

78. 54'

    Johnson makes an excellent block to deny Ashley Cole as he looks to unleash a shot from the edge of the six-yard box.

79. 54'

    Alex heads the resulting corner towards goal but Sturridge is punished for a challenge on Ferguson.

80. 55'

    Larsson concedes a free-kick as Chelsea head down the left and protests heavily.

81. 56'

    Poor free-kick and easily cleared.

82. 58'

    Nothing is quite coming off again, but Chelsea are the dominant force.

83. 58'

    Benitez creates some space in the area and fires in a shot, but Terry puts his head in the way.

84. 60'

    There's a moment of danger for Birmingham as the ball bounces around the area and Lampard looks to take advantage, but Hart gathers.

85. 61'

    Malouda collects a yellow card for a poor challenge on Benitez. Larsson may look to shoot from the free-kick.

86. 62'

    Larsson brings an excellent save from Cech, but the goalkeeper is down after his head appeared to collide with the post.

87. 63'

    Cech looks dazed but he is conscious and his helmet will have provided protection. Hilario is warming up but Cech looks like he'll continue.

88. 64'

    The Birmingham corner is disappointing - Cech is untested.

89. 64'

    Bowyer forces another corner as Alex makes a block. They will look to test Cech now.

90. 65'

    McFadden fails to clear the first man.

91. 65'

    Birmingham appeal for a penalty as Alex lightly pushes Johnson as a throw-in comes into the area.

92. 66'

    A Chelsea cross from out on the right takes two deflection and the visitors have a corner.

93. 67'

    Belletti connects with a volley at the near post and it deflects off Bowyer for another corner.

94. 67'

    This time Drogba heads over for a goal kick.

95. 67'

    Sturridge comes off after struggling to create a threat, with the more experienced Kalou taking his place.

96. 68'

    Lampard spoons over as Kalou does well to push the ball into his direction from out on the right.

97. 70'

    Joe Cole is warming up for Chelsea.

98. 70'

    Malouda woefully miskicks with his right foot with the goal gaping after more great work from Kalou.

99. 71'

    Cech comes out to clear the ball with Jerome chasing after a slack pass from Ashley Cole presented Birmingham with the chance to put the ball forwards.

100. 71'

     Another great save from Hart as Kalou goes through! The Birmingham goalkeeper has been inspirational today.

101. 71'

     Kalou has another attempt from the ensuing corner, but it's dealt with once more.

102. 73'

     Mikel gives away a needless foul and Larsson will have yet another chance to test Cech.

103. 74'

     Larsson fires straight into the wall.

104. 74'

     Chelsea break and Drogba looks to make something of it before Birmingham counter and Terry does well to deny Jerome.

105. 75'

     Birmingham's corner is disappointing and Chelsea break once more.

106. 75'

     Lampard sees a shot blocked and Carr clears for a throw-in.

107. 76'

     Malouda looks to burst into the area and unleash a shot, but it doesn't come off.

108. 77'

     McFadden comes off for Fahey.

109. 78'

     Belletti chips a ball in for Drogba, but he can't control it with the close attentions of several defenders.

110. 79'

     Lampard is withdrawn for Joe Cole. Lampard has struggled to threaten the target today but it's a surprising decision.

111. 80'

     Benitez heads the ball to Jerome in the area, but Chelsea get it clear.

112. 80'

     Belletti fires in a poor cross from the right for Chelsea. Goal kick.

113. 81'

     Drogba protests after giving away a foul in the Birmingham half.

114. 82'

     Benitez nearly takes advantage as Ashley Cole's clearance deflects back into the area.

115. 82'

     Carr nearly presents Kalou with a simple chance as he heads back into the area. Hart makes it in time but takes a boot to the head for his trouble.

116. 84'

     Hart is still being bandaged up. Ballack is getting ready to come on for Chelsea.

117. 85'

     Ballack replaces Mikel, who will now head off to the African Cup of Nations. Hart is back up.

118. 86'

     Bowyer goes down under a challenge from Belletti as Chelsea lose their attacking impetus.

119. 88'

     Drogba is given offside as he looks to get onto a ball over the top.

120. 88'

     Damien Johnson makes his return from injury as a substitute for Larsson.

121. 88'

     Larsson looks to have picked up an injury.

122. 89'

     Malouda is sent off for a pointless foul on Carr. He is given a second yellow for sliding in as Chelsea lose possession in attack.

123. 90'

     Fahey fires in a shot on goal as Birmingham look to take advantage of the extra man, but that's a simple save for Cech.

124. 91'

     Hart claws the ball away after it is chipped across the face.

125. 91'

     Hart denies Kalou once more. Chelsea are still searching for the win.

126. 92'

     Bowyer sees a shot blocked and it bounces into Damien Johnson's path, but the sub's shot is well wide.

127. 94'

     We're now into the fourth minute of stoppage time and Chelsea still want all three points.

128. 94'

     Kalou does brilliantly again to create space on the right and forces Roger Johnson into a great clearing header for a corner.

129. 94'

     Hart gathers the corner confidently.

130. 95'

     Jerome uses up some time as he holds the ball by the corner flag.

131. 96'

     We're into the final minute.

132. 96'

     Ballack chips the ball towards Drogba, but it's just too high to make good contact.

133. 96'

     Benitez nearly latches onto a backpass, but Cech gathers.

134. 97'

     It's all over! Hart produced a string of saves for Birmingham, Alex struck the bar while Benitez saw a goal for the hosts harshly ruled out.

135. 97'

     Stay with ESPN Soccernet for the full match report and post-match reaction from this match and the rest of the day's action.

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