So, as it stands, Middlesbrough will be going four points clear of third-placed Millwall and six clear of Ipswich.

HOWEVER, Town have two games in hand on Boro with a superior goal difference to boot.

Ian Clarkson
Ex-Birmingham captain on BBC Radio WM

We look very fragile at the back tonight. We need to be careful we don't get a beating.

The disappointment is that we've switched off for the Middlesbrough goals.

Boro striker Tommy Conway talks himself into a yellow card.

Needless.

Double change for Blues.

Patrick Roberts and Jay Stansfield are off and Carlos Vicente and August Priske are on.

Been a rough night for Birmingham goalkeeper James Beadle this.

He's had no chance with the three Boro goals but he's struggled with the ball at feet a few times and Tommy Conway almost charges down an attempted ball out.

Beadle's relieved the loose ball lands in his arms and not the net.

David Strelec was going to get subbed off before he scored and Boro boss Kim Hellberg has stuck with the plan.

On comes Morgan Whittaker.

Neil Maddison
Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Radio Tees

It's a wonderful ball into the box and what a finish. Strelec just gets in front and gets a head on it.

It's an absolutely top drawer header.

First booking of the evening goes the way of Birmingham midfielder Tomoki Iwata for a foul on Hayden Hackney.

Fair to say he doesn't agree with the decision.

That's the Japanese midfielder's ninth yellow of the season.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees commentator

It's a completely different game since that break.

That Marvin Ducksch goal has got Birmingham back in the game.

Boro have to see out this spell of Birmingham pressure. They were the better team by some distance in the first half but Birmingham have put that behind them.

Marvin Ducksch forces an awkward save out of Boro goalkeeper Sol Brynn.

As in the first 10 minutes of the first half, the away side can not get out.

So much better from Birmingham in the first few minutes of this half.

That goal gives them real hope and with their tremendous home record, they'll back themselves to get the next one now.

Ian Clarkson
Ex-Birmingham captain on BBC Radio WM

On the front foot again.

Stansfield with an energetic run, he's got his head up and played it to Marvin Ducksch.

We've got ourselves in the game.

Sometimes you think that Ducksch is not in the game but he's got this habit to come up with a goal.

Back under way.

Can Birmingham respond?

Birmingham's hopes of making the play-offs this season appear to be fading.

Blues' owners expect big things.

Is this man under pressure?

Image source, Shutterstock

Neil Maddison
Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Radio Tees

Both goals were striker's finishes, deadly from Targett. Low, hard and away from the keeper.

Take away that first five minutes, Boro have been in control. But, there's another 45 minutes and they'll be hurt and I'm sure they'll make changes.

The first few minutes of the second half are vital. The first goal will be crucial. If they get it, it's game on, if we get it, it's game over.

I've really enjoyed watching us and the way we've mixed our game up.

Boro will close the gap to leaders Coventry to five points if they win tonight.

Perhaps more importantly they'll stretch their advantage over third-placed Millwall to four points.

Birmingham will stay eight points outside the play-offs... that's a big deficit to make up with 11 games remaining.

Image source, Opta/Shutterstock