The Saturday lunchtime fixture on matchday 14 of the 2015-16 Championship season was a West Midlands derby as Birmigham City welcomed Wolverhampton Wanderers to St Andrew's.
The hosts had won four out of five and were celebrating a hugely successful first year in charge for Gary Rowett, but Wolves spoiled the party, ending their three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.
12.01pmHappy Halloween folks! The first of two Championship commentaries today takes place at St Andrew's as West Midlands rivals Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers lock horns at St Andrew's. Team news on the way...
12.03pmBIRMINGHAM XI: Kuszczak; Caddis, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds; Gleeson, Kieftenbeld, Davis; Maghoma, Gray; Donaldson
Subs: Legzdins, Cotterill, Solomon-Otabor, Toral, Shinnie, Spector, Brock-Madsen
Subs: Legzdins, Cotterill, Solomon-Otabor, Toral, Shinnie, Spector, Brock-Madsen
12.05pmBlues boss Gary Rowett makes one change to the side that were beaten 2-0 at Hull City last weekend. It comes in midfield, with David Davis, an ex-Wolves player, replacing Jonathan Spector. It's a bit of a surprise to see David Cotterill still on the bench, but maybe he isn't quite 100% fit after recently recovering from an injury.
12.07pmWOLVES XI: Martinez; Iorfa, Batth, Williamson, Golbourne; McDonald, Coady, Edwards; Henry, Byrne; Afobe
Subs: Ikeme, Doherty, Price, Graham, Ojo, Holt, Le Fondre
Subs: Ikeme, Doherty, Price, Graham, Ojo, Holt, Le Fondre
12.09pmKenny Jackett has made three changes to his starting XI. Two of them are enforced, with new loan signing Mike Williamson coming in for Kortney Hause in defence and James Henry taking Rajiv van La Parra's place on the wing. The other alteration is at right-back, with the returning Dominic Iorfa preferred over Matt Doherty.
12.12pmTime to look at the league table. A win for Birmingham today would be their fifth in six games and would take them within two points of leaders Brighton & Hove Albion ahead of the rest of matchday 14's games later today. Wolves start the day 15th and would move up into the top half for a couple of hours at least if they claim victory.
12.15pmTaking a closer look at Birmingham now. The Blues have been celebrating one year with Rowett in charge this week and you have to say that the former Burton Albion boss has had quite an impact. The 41-year-old inherited a side that had just lost 8-0 to Bournemouth at home and were lying in the bottom three. He did more than keep than up, achieving a top-10 finish and now this season the Blues look like genuine playoff contenders. Just take a look at these stats:
Quite an impact... pic.twitter.com/D3QCmL9eJU
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) October 27, 2015
12.17pmSTATS: Defensive stability and consistent team selection have been the name of the game under Rowett since he took over. This season, the Blues have used fewer players (18) than any other team in the league and there have been two goals or fewer in seven of their last eight matches in the Championship.
12.20pmMoving on to Wolves - Kenny Jackett's team have lost three consecutive league matches for the first time since December last year, when they went on a five-game losing streak which derailed their playoff charge. The last two were both at home as they conceded five and scored just one in the defeats to Brentford (0-2) and Middlesbrough (1-3).
12.22pmJackett seems to have secured a good signing with Newcastle's Williamson coming in after the injury suffered by Hause. Wolves were leading Boro 1-0 when Hause had to go off, leaving Jackett with only three recognised defenders on the pitch. Boro took advantage, scoring three times in the second half to snatch the points.
12.24pmH2H: The last meeting between the two was also at St Andrew's in April and it was Birmingham who fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 as strikes from Rob Kiernan and Demarai Gray ensured the points for the Blues. Wolves have won only once in their last eight visits to St Andrew's in the league, drawing four and losing three.
12.26pmPREDICTION: Okey doke. The two teams are in the tunnel, so it's time I made my pre-match prediction. The mood at St Andrew's is the best it's been for years and with all the positivity surrounding Rowett and his year in charge, the Blues should make it five wins in six today. I'm going for a 2-1 home win.
12.27pmThat's the way you guys see it on our in-depth match preview as well, with 73.2% of you backing Brum for victory.
12.29pmCaptains Paul Robinson and Danny Batth lead their teams out with wreaths of poppies as this is the club's closest home match to next weekend's Remembrance Sunday. We will have a minute's silence before kickoff.
12.32pm
A minute's silence is immaculately respected inside St Andrews. We're about to get underway. #COYW
— Wolves (@OfficialWolves) October 31, 2015
0 minKICKOFF! As Jeremy Paxman would say: 'Right, let's get on with it.' Both teams are in their traditional colours of blue and amber and it is Birmingham who get us underway.
1 minAn excellent start by the home side as Donaldson's flick around the corner finds Davis. He puts the ball in low and Williamson is there to make his first clearance as a Wolves player.
4 minBirmingham have certainly been the brighter of the two sides early on, with the buzzy Gray all over the park looking for the ball. Wolves holding firm at the back, though.
7 minFirst exciting moment for Wolves as Coady surges forward from midfield. He looks for Afobe with a pass that had to be inch-perfect. It's cut out, but the ball drops back to Coady and his shot is blocked away for a corner.
7 minThe initial corner comes to nothing, but Byrne does well to pick out Henry again on the right and his second cross is met by Williamson at the back post. The Newcastle loanee can't get on top of it, heading a long way over the bar.
9 minGray is too quick for Henry, but not Iorfa as the Wolves right-back watches the ball well and slides in to clear away. That should be a n exciting battle between those two youngsters today.
11 minGOAL! BIRMINGHAM 0-1 WOLVES (DAVID EDWARDS)
11 minFirst blood to the visitors! Byrne's cross from the left loops up and Robison misjudges it on the bounce to allow Afobe a shooting opportunity. Kuszczak is out quickly to block the former Arsenal man, but the ball drops to Edwards and he picks the gap between two defenders on the line to give Wolves the lead.
13 minThat is Edwards's fourth goal of the season and they have come from just five shots on target. Clinical.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images14 minAlmost two! Henry's low cross from the right causes havoc as Robinson goes for it but then pulls out so that Kuszczak can grab. The keeper was put off though and he fumbles the ball almost into his own net before scrabbling to recover possession.
17 minThe home fans cry for a penalty but today's referee, Peter Bankes, is having none of it. Donaldson fell to the ground as he tussled with Batth and you have to say it was six of one, half a dozen of the other. Both men had ahold of each other.
19 minHere's the moment Edwards stroked home with Kuszczak out of position:
Wolves take an early lead at St Andrew's - the last time Birmingham won after conceding 1st was v Wolves on Apr 11 pic.twitter.com/AhN9rgRkyH
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) October 31, 2015
21 minBirmingham are being a bit sloppy in possession and this time it's Gleeson who's caught, allowing Byrne to streak away. The winger looks for the run of Afobe, but he plays the pass too late and his teammate is well offside.
24 minBirmingham are having more of the ball with 58% possession, but most of it is in the middle of the park and they're not doing much at all with it.
28 minCLOSE! After a stale few minutes, Byrne almost puts Wolves two up with a gorgeous attempt. He ran at the Birmingham defence before quickly opening his body and curling towards the far corner. Kuszczak was worried, but luckily for him and the hosts it bent wide.
30 minIt's a real chance for Byrne to impress today on what is just his third start since joining the club from Swindon Town in the summer.
31 minJubilant scenes for the visitors:
ACTION | @_DaveEdwards gives Wolves an early lead at St Andrews. #BCFCvWWFC pic.twitter.com/n0WWsIOXsr
— Wolves (@OfficialWolves) October 31, 2015
33 minSAVE! Birmingham think Edwards is offside, but the linesman's flag stays down before the Wolves scorer picks out teammate Henry. The winger shifts the ball past one defender before firing low towards the corner, with Kuszczak making a fairly comfortable stop low to his right.
35 minHenry's corner is headed half-away by the Birmingham defence and it drops to McDonald, who's having a quiet game but almost brings it to life with a first-time volley that flies over the top.
37 minWolves have now have double the shots of Birmingham (six to three) and got half of them on target. The Blues are still yet to test Martinez in the Wolves goal.
38 minBut here's a chance as Maghoma is brought down right on the edge of the box. Caddis lining it up...
39 minThe right-back looks to go low but it's blocked by a Wolves leg. Rubbish effort.
41 minA decent spell of pressure from the home side ends as Gleeson volleys over the top from 25 yards. The hosts won a pair of corners beforehand, but neither came to anything as the Wolves defence continues to hold firm.
44 minBirmingham are ending the first half strongly here as Davis gets in down the inside-right channel. It's a tight angle and he decides to just put it into a dangerous area, but his cross-cum-shot comes to nothing as Martinez watches it wide.
45+1 minTwo minutes of added time to come at the end of the first period.
45+2 minGray's hit-and-hope effort from 20 yards takes a deflection to give Birmingham a corner just before the break. He goes over to take it and it's an easy claim for Martinez.
45+2 minHALF-TIME: BIRMINGHAM 0-1 WOLVES
1.21pmBirmingham had won four of five, Wolves were on a three-game losing streak, but it's not going to form at the moment.
1.23pmDave Edwards's 11th-minute goal is the difference at the moment and you have to say that Wolves have defended well enough to deserve the lead.
1.26pmSo, the Blues are leading 1-0 here and that's also the case at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea are beating Liverpool in the Premier League. If you want to follow that game as well, open this link in a new tab.
1.29pmHere's how the table looks with Wolves set to take three points back to the Black Country. Jackett's side currently lie 12th, but that is likely to change after this afternoon's nine games. Birmingham missing out on second spot as it stands and they could be out of the playoffs if results go against them.
1.31pmThere's already been two games on matchday 14 and this is how they finished on Thursday and Friday night respectively: Leeds United 0-2 Blackburn Rovers, Brentford 1-0 Queens Park Rangers.
1.34pmATTENDANCE: The second half will be back underway shortly in front of 18,946, 2,064 of which are travelling Wolves supporters.
46 minKICKOFF! No changes at half time from either manager. New loan signing Grant Holt is on the Wolves bench and we're likely to see him at some point today.
48 minCorner number six of the match for Birmingham that Gray hits low towards the near post. It's flicked on cleverly by a blue shirt, but Wolves are the first to the ball and hack clear.
49 minBirmingham have their first shot on target at the eighth attempt as Maghoma weakly strikes straight at Martinez from 20 yards. Easy peasy for the Wolves keeper to hold that one.
52 minCHANCE! Decent chance for Donaldson as he gets across Batth to meet Caddis's cross and flick towards goal. He doesn't get enough on it, though, and the ball whizzes wide of the upright.
53 minIf Birmingham are to get the win today, they will emulate last season's match here at St Andrew's when they fought back from a goal down to win 2-1.
56 minWolves have done nothing in the second half and with Birmingham having more and more of the ball in the visitors' half, you feel that the equaliser might be coming soon.
58 minBOOKING! First yellow card of the match goes to Wolves midfielder McDonald, who scythed down Donaldson on the left corner of the area. Good position for the Blues.
58 minBIRMINGHAM SUB: Before the free kick is taken, Birmingham bring on their set-piece specialist David Cotterill, with Kieftenbeld the man coming off.
59 minCotterill trots over to take the free kick and wallops it straight into the wall. We'll let him off because he'd only just come on.
60 minBirmingham try to win the ball back quickly, but Wolves' passing is too neat and tidy and they manage to get Afobe away down the left. He cuts inside his man before attempting an audacious volley that spins high over the top.
62 minCHANCES! End-to-end stuff as both teams go close! First Cotterill teed up Maghoma, whose shot was blocked in the Wolves box, before the visitors streaked the other way and Byrne set up McDonald. The Scot's first-time strike was on target, but Kuszczak was equal to it with a flying save.
67 minBIRMINGHAM SUB: Second change for the Blues as Jon Toral replaces Maghoma.
70 minSHOT! With Birmingham pushing more men forward, Wolves should have chances on the break and they do here as Afobe charges at the defence. He has options left and right, but goes for goal himself with a pretty naff effort that bobbles wide.
73 minWOLVES SUB: A first substitution from Jackett and it comes out wide as Sheyi Ojo takes Byrne's place. A decent showing from Byrne, but he just lacks that killer edge at the moment.
75 minBirmingham's only shot on target remains the tame effort by Maghoma earlier on this half. Blues striker Donaldson has barely been in the game when facing goal, doing most of his work as a hold-up target man.
77 minExcellent goalkeeping from Kuszczak as he slides in to get to the ball ahead of Iorfa, whose long legs had got him away down the right. About 15 minutes to go with added time now and Wolves remain strong in defence.
80 minSUBS: Changes from both managers. Nicolai Brock-Madsen replaces Davis, who had picked up a knock, for the Blues, while Holt is on for his Wolves debut in place of Afobe.
81 minExcellent defending by Iorfa, who has been the man of the match for me, as he wins a free kick by strongly fending off Brock-Madsen at the back post.
83 minCLOSE! Cotterill tries his luck from fully 30 yards and it fizzes about a yard wide of the post. Martinez seemed to have it covered and was confident watching it wide.
83 minCHANCE! Wolves almost put the game to bed at the other end as Edwards pounces on a Grounds mistake before being denied by Kuszczak.
84 minGOAL! BIRMINGHAM 0-2 WOLVES (SHEYI OJO)
84 minSurely that's that. Ojo takes a short corner and then bursts past his man before somehow picking out the far corner with a low shot even though there seemed to be several bodies in the way. What an impact!
87 minBirmingham needed something quickly after falling two behind, but they haven't mustered anything. This would be a hugely impressive win for Wolves and much needed.
89 minWOLVES SUB: Third and final swap for the visitors, with Doherty coming on for Henry to just add more defensive solidity to the backline.
90 minFantastic dribbling from Cotterill down the left and his cross is just begging to be headed home, but Martinez is off his line quickly to pluck the ball out of the air just as Brock-Madsen was about to nod in.
90+1 minFIVE minutes of added time indicated. There is enough time for Birmingham, but they don't deserve anything.
90+4 minWolves are seeing this game out with ease. They are ending their three-game losing streak in some style with a perfect away display at their neighbours Birmingham. Jackett will be over the moon on the touchline.
90+5 minFULL-TIME: BIRMINGHAM 0-2 WOLVES
2.28pmWolves ruin Gary Rowett's anniversary match in charge of Birmingham as goals from Dave Edwards and Sheyi Ojo earn victory at St Andrew's. Be sure to stay tuned on Sports Mole for plenty more live football action throughout the day. Enjoy Halloween and the rest of your weekend!
