Derby County's wait for a first Championship win of the season goes on after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Birmingham City.
Both sides had countless chances throughout the entertaining affair, but in the end they were made to settle for a point apiece.
Stephen Gleeson opened the scoring for City thanks to a deflected shot from range, before Johnny Russell levelled things up in the second half to make it four points from four for the Rams.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from St Andrew's below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship meeting between Birmingham City and Derby County at St Andrew's. Another weekend of Football League action is upon us, starting with this intriguing fixture in the Midlands this evening.
It is Birmingham who have made the better start to the campaign, despite playing one game fewer than their opponents, having registered four points from their opening two fixtures. Derby, backed by many to up automatically this term, have struggled out the traps with three-successive draws.
Before taking a look at the two sides in a little more depth, let's check out some team news from St Andrew's...
TEAM NEWS!
BIRMINGHAM CITY XI: Kuszczak; Caddis, Spector, Morrison, Grounds; Kieftenbeld, Gleeson, Cotterill, Toral; Gray, Donaldson
DERBY COUNTY XI: Carson; Christie, Forsyth, Keogh, Shackell; Baird, Russell, Ince, Thorne; Bent, Martin
Starting with the visitors, then, and boss Paul Clement has opted to ring the changes from last time out. Four new faces have been brought into the starting lineup on the back of what has been a disappointing start to the campaign on the whole. Cyrus Christie and Craig Forysth are brought into defence, while Johnny Russell takes his place in midfield.
The fourth alteration sees Darren Bent come in for his first league start of the campaign, alongside Chris Martin in a strong-looking Derby attack. Like Bent, this is also a first start of the season for Christie at the back. Jamie Hanson, Jeff Hendrick and Jake Buxton are still ruled out, meanwhile, as is creative midfield talent Will Hughes.
Michael Morrison and Jon Toral were big injury doubts in the build-up to this one, but both have managed to shake off their respective knocks and are deemed fit enough to feature from the off. The Blues brought in a new signing earlier today, Danish youngster Nicolai Brock-Madsen, but this one comes too soon for him to play a part.
BENCH WATCH!
BIRMINGHAM CITY SUBS: Legzdins, Eardley, Robinson, Thomas, Maghoma, Shinnie, Davis
DERBY COUNTY SUBS: Grant, Dawkins, Pearce, Weimann, Calero, Shotton, Warnock
Stephen Warnock is among those to have dropped to the bench, while further injury woes elsewhere for the Rams sees Ivan Calero promoted to the matchday squad. In terms of the home side, they have been handed that big fitness boost thanks to Toral and Morrison being deemed fit enough to start. That means Rowett sticks with the same hand, with the back-ups having to bide their time.
Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
Well as touched on a little earlier, Birmingham have made the brighter start to the season at this early stage. An opening-day win was followed up by a 2-2 draw away at Burnley, which City will perhaps feel aggrieved they did not hold out to win. Rather embarrassingly, Rowett's men were given midweek off as Brentford's pitch was undergoing renovation.
That explains why Derby have played one fixture more heading into this contest, with Clement's charges recorded successive draws to date. A goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers was followed up by home ties against Charlton Athletic and most recently Middlesbrough - it is fair to say that County have yet to find their full stride.
Birmingham have a strong record in front of their home supporters, winning six and losing none of their last nine fixtures here. They come up against a Derby side who have not actually won any of their last six matches; five of those being drawn.
DID YOU KNOW? Birmingham have scored four goals from their seven shots on target so far this season. That is the type of striking-accuracy Clement is after from his own players, having admitted pre-match that more quality is needed in the attacking third of the field.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Incredibly, Birmingham have scored in 25 of their last 26 meetings with local rivals Derby, while the Rams have won on just one of their last seven visits to St Andrew's. That triumph did come last season, though, as County turned on the style to pick up a 4-0 win on Boxing Day.
The two sides are now out on the field, welcomed at St Andrew's by a fantastic atmosphere. These home supporters have been starved of success since their League Cup triumph in 2011, but after a promising start there is reason to believe thanks to the steady work of Gary Rowett. City remain unchanged for the third game running, while Paul Clement has changed things around slightly on the back of a third draw.
We are just moments away from kickoff in the Midlands:
KICKOFF! Derby get proceedings underway and instantly look to get the ball forward, only for a stray pass to allow Birmingham to wrestle back possession.
Kieftenbeld goes long in search of Cotterill on the left, but the ball has too much on it for the Welshman. Derby playing some decent stuff in these early stages, without really asking questions of their opponents.
SAVE! Some promising play from Birmingham culminates in Donaldson chesting the ball down for Gray on the edge of the box, who in turn fires it right down the middle. The youngster got his connection right, but it was simple enough for Carson between the sticks.
Derby are trying their best to get going, yet so far the only opening has fallen the way of the hosts. You get the sense that the first goal this evening could prove decisive, as Birmingham look to attack down the flank now.
CHANCE! A superb cross from Gleeson is just asking to be headed home by Donaldson. The Birmingham striker got himself between two Derby defenders, but his header was straight at Carson.
There is no denying that Birmingham have started the brighter here, creating two decent openings already inside 11 minutes. Toral has just fired a half-chance of his own well over the bar on the volley.
CHANCE! Well the chance count has now been levelled up at two-apiece. Ince found himself in a good position to get a shot away, only to ponder for a little too long which allowed Birmingham to clear their lines. Derby staged a second attacking move moments later, which ended with Bent firing wide when given time to pick his spot inside the box.
An entertaining start to the game, then, which began with Birmingham on top but has seen Derby grow more and more into things. We should have had a goal, but as it is we are still tied at 0-0.
A good ball into the box is met by the head of Bent, who couldn't quite keep his attempt down on the stretch. Derby are well on top at the moment.
SAVE! The chances keep on coming, yet still we have no goal to show for this entertaining opening quarter to the contest. Cotterill was shoved off the ball by Ince, which allowed the Derby flyer to get a shot on goal. It was well kept out by Kuszczak, and Grounds then got to the rebound just before Bent in front of an empty net.
OFF THE POST! At the risk of sounding like a broken record - how hasn't a goal been scored?! Derby, keeping this strong pressure on the hosts, come close yet again as Ince's swerving shot crashes back off the post. Bent was there again, but the rebound wasn't fortunate to him.
Derby force another corner, allowing Ince to go short and weave his way into the box. Birmingham stood firm to clear the danger, yet they cannot get a grip on this match at the moment after that promising start.
Carson's quick-thinking almost allows Bent a clean run through on goal, but Caddis just about gets the better of the former Aston Villa man to prevent a one-on-one situation.
I was just about to say this game has had its first quiet spell... then Cotterill goes and tries his luck from 45 yards out, with his dipping effort ending narrowly over Carson's bar.
SAVE! Superb effort from Gray, who cuts in from the left and lets rip from around 23 yards out. There was far too much on it for Carson, so the former England international simply parried it as far away as possible.
Well following the theme of the game so far, Birmingham are now having their 10-minute spell of pressure. Cotterill's cross from the right ended on the head of Donaldson, but it was a difficult opportunity which failed to test Carson.
Forsyth's clever header loops into a dangerous area, which Birmingham are happy to clear behind for a corner. So still we are goalless at St Andrew's, despite seeing a first half full of chances and near misses.
A searching ball over the top isn't controlled by Bent, but it falls nicely for Russell on the edge of the box. The Derby man, returning to the starting lineup this evening, fails to make the most of the opening with a rather tame effort.
I think Gary Rowett would probably talk half time now. The hosts have had their chances, though it is Derby who are looking the more likely with seven minutes to go before the interval.
This has been the quietest spell of the match so far, with little chances of note at either end since Gray's shot on the half-hour mark. The pace has dropped somewhat from both sides after an extremely high-tempo opening 35 minutes or so.
Birmingham are being a little too delicate in an attempt to carve Derby open, when instead their best chances so far have come from players cutting in from wide areas or long balls up field.
GOAL! BIRMINGHAM CITY 1-0 DERBY COUNTY (GLEESON)
It may have come late in the half, but this contest finally has the goal it deserves. Gleeson provided a superb cross at the beginning of the half, and this shot from about 32 yards out has opened the scoring at St Andrew's. It looked initially as though it was a superb strike from the Birmingham midfielder, but it took a big deflection off Baird on its way through, which allowed it to creep past Carson.
HALF TIME: BIRMINGHAM CITY 1-0 DERBY COUNTY
Derby have had countless chances, but they trail the Blues 1-0 at the interval thanks to that late strike from Gleeson. It took a big deflection off Baird on its way through, gifting Garry Rowett's men a precious goal in a match that has provided plenty of entertainment.
Donaldson and Gray linked up well to fashion the opening chance just a few minutes in, which did little to trouble Carson in the end. The former England international was called into action moments later, though, this time to keep out a headed Donaldson attempt.
It was then Derby's turn to enjoy possession, creating arguably their best chance through Darren Bent, who shot wide of goal from 10 yards out when given room to fire away. Kuszczak then pushed away Ince's attempt, before the Derby flyer let rip with an effort that came crashing back off the post.
Just when it looked as though the half was going to end goalless, Gleeson finally provided us with that breakthrough goal at St Andrew's. So plenty of excitement, then, with Derby the side left to chase this game in the second 45 minutes.
BENCH WATCH!
BIRMINGHAM CITY SUBS: Legzdins, Eardley, Robinson, Thomas, Maghoma, Shinnie, Davis
DERBY COUNTY SUBS: Grant, Dawkins, Pearce, Weimann, Calero, Shotton, Warnock
MATCH ACTION! Jon Toral is challenged by Richard Keogh during the first half at St Andrew's
Derby boss Paul Clement may just be tempted into making a change at the break, having seen his side fail to take their chances in that first half. Both teams are now back out on the field.
RESTART! No changes at the break from either side, as Birmingham get us back underway in the Midlands.
A nicely-worked move from the hosts sees Toral attempt to weave his way through, but there was enough pressure on him to see the chance die out. That came moments after Donaldson dragged wide the first attempt of the half.
Some intricate play up the other end now, meanwhile, as a quick give-and-go is almost enough for Ince to get in behind. He was held back just a little, leaving him feeling aggrieved, yet there was not a great deal of contact in it.
CHANCE! Forsyth's strike causes Kuszczak plenty of problems, with the Blues keeper rather flapping at it. He was quickly back to his feet, though, and was able to get to the rebound before it was nodded home by Bent.
Gray works his socks off to carve open another chance, but his cutback was easily cleared away in the end. This contest is still incredibly stretched.
Bent is so nearly in behind, only for Spector to cut out a decent through-ball on the stretch. Derby just about on top, as they continue to probe away here.
SAVE! Well I said Derby are on top, but it is Birmingham who perhaps deserve a second. Donaldson's shot forced a decent stop out of Carson, while Toral couldn't quite control the rebound and fired wide with a first-time effort.
Birmingham are working hard now, and it looks as though City may just sit back a little more as this half wares on. Derby have really struggled for goals so far this term, which looks like continuing here tonight.
GOAL! BIRMINGHAM CITY 1-1 DERBY COUNTY (RUSSELL)
A fine Derby equaliser, with Johnny Russell finding the net for the second time this week. Tom Ince created it, turning well on the edge of the box with a little flick and playing in his teammate. Russell was still in a tight position and had plenty to do, however, but he fired superbly into the roof of the net to make it 1-1.
CLOSE! Well from one-goal down just a few minutes ago, Derby so nearly find themselves in front. Moments after Russell's leveller, Ince swung in a cross for Bent to head agonisingly close. In fact, it looked to graze the bar on its way over.
DERBY COUNTY SUB! Andreas Weimann has been introduced in place of Darren Bent. The Derby pressure continues to mount.
PENALTY APPEAL! A big moment in this game, as Martin goes down inside the box. The contact looked minimal, but it appeared as though referee Lee Mason had pointed to the spot. He instead booked Martin for diving, to the dismay of the travelling fans behind the goal.
OFF THE POST! This game just keeps on giving! Weimann's shot looks for all the world to be trickling into the corner, but Kuszczak incredibly got a fingertip to the ball when on the stretch down low, providing the touch needed to take it onto the post.
Donaldson smashes the ball into the side-netting from range. Half the ground thought it was in, but Carson will no doubt tell you he had it covered all the way. What a match! Incidentally, Maghoma and Shinnie replaced Toral and Cotterill a few moments ago.
I think pretty much for the first time this half, we have just had a two-minute breather. Donaldson landed heavily on Keogh's arm which led to a short stoppage in play, but hopefully the high tempo quickly resumes.
Birmingham win themselves a free kick deep in Derby's half, which once more helps take the sting out of the contest a little. Derby need to find that momentum in these final 14 minutes or so, perhaps aided by another substitution.
It may still be early on in the season, but Birmingham's extra few days off may prove telling in this final quarter. Derby are the team seeing more of the ball, yet they can no longer carve their compact opponents open.
Ten minutes left to go at St Andrew's but no sign of another change of personnel from Clement. A fourth-successive draw will not be the result he was after here tonight, yet he might just take it.
The Blues seem to be finding a fair few gaps in the Derby backline now, as this relentless game of football rumbles on. It's a shame that we only have eight more minutes left to play.
YELLOW CARD! Richard Keogh is booked for an earlier challenge on Maghoma, leaving him walking a tightrope in these closing stages. Ryan Shotton has now replaced Cyrus Christie, meanwhile.
No signs of Birmingham sitting back, as they continue to push forward and win themselves a corner. Morrison met the cross into the box, which he felt took a deflection on its way behind.
Derby now look a little stale compared to 10 minutes ago and, in truth, if any side is going to win this one then it is going to be the hosts. Still time for some late drama in the Midlands.
Martin gets away from his man and gets in a shot, which is well blocked in front of goal. Things have gone quiet in terms of chances, but that is not to say we won't see a late goal in these final minutes.
Three minutes of added time to be played at the end of this entertaining affair. Derby are on the attack now, pushing high up the right through Shotton.
So many tired legs out on the field, but Derby still press forward in desperate search of a winner. I'm sure Birmingham will be happy enough with this point; the Rams not so on the back of a winless start.
The ball falls nicely for Ince to strike it on the half-volley, but Shinnie blocks the ball for a Derby corner. The set-piece is swung in, but is easily handled which should bring the contest to a close.
FULL TIME: BIRMINGHAM CITY 1-1 DERBY COUNTY
Well there we have it, then, as the full-time whistle sounds at St Andrew's. It has been a superb evening of football, contested between two sides who gave it their all.
In the end, after a few top-class saves, countless near misses and a couple of shots which came back off the post, the two teams have had to settle for a point apiece in this opening fixture of the Football League weekend.
We will be back tomorrow with plenty more action from across the Championship, Premier League and across Europe's major leagues, so be sure to join us then.
