Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship clash between Leeds United and Birmingham City at Elland Road.

It has been a mixed start to the campaign results wise for the Whites, but with just two wins to their name so far they are in desperate need of three points in order to maintain their outside promotion hopes. Birmingham are well on track to achieving their aim for the campaign, meanwhile, having returned to winning ways last time out to climb into the top six on goal difference.

There is plenty to get through between now and kickoff in a little under 30 minutes' time, so let's get straight into things by checking out some team news from West Yorkshire.

TEAM NEWS!

LEEDS UNITED XI: Silvestri; Berardi, Cooper, Bamba, Taylor; Murphy, Cook, Mowatt; Buckley, Dallas, Wood

BIRMINGHAM CITY XI: Kuszczak; Caddis, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds; Gleeson, Kieftenbeld, Davis, Cotterill, Gray, Donaldson

Starting with the home team, then, and Uwe Rosler has made four changes to his starting lineup from last time out. The most notable inclusion is that of Will Buckley, who makes his first start for the club since joining on loan from Sunderland earlier this week.

There is also a start for Chris Wood, who was dearly missed at last week's 3-0 reverse at Middlesbrough, while Liam Cooper and Luke Murphy also come in. Giuseppe Bellusci is among those to drop out for the hosts, meanwhile, following his calamity own goal at the Riverside six days ago.

In terms of the visitors, they remain unchanged from their victory over Brentford in midweek. That means a place up top for striker Clayton Donaldson, who is tasked with scoring the goals to fire the Blues into the playoff zone. He will be joined in attack by the seemingly in-demand Demarai Gray, while David Cotterill starts on the other flank.

BENCH WATCH!

LEEDS UNITED SUBS: Turnbull, Wootton, Bellusci, Adeyemi, Botaka, Byram, Antenucci

BIRMINGHAM CITY SUBS: Legzdins, Solomon-Otabor, Brown, Magahoma, Toral, Spector, Brock-Madsen

Mirco Antenucci also drops down to the bench following last week's under-par performance in the North East, joining Tom Adeyemi, Sam Byram and the aforementioned Bellusci. Birmingham can call upon Jon Toral and Danish forward Nicolai Brock-Madsen among others, meanwhile, as they look to close in on the top six.

Will Buckley is handed his first start for Leeds United this afternoon after officially completing his loan switch from Sunderland on Friday

© Getty Images

Well it has been very much a mixed start start to the season for Leeds, but one that is bordering more towards disappointment at this stage. Five draws from the opening six games ensured that the Whites' form was tough to read, yet two defeats in the last three suggests that they are currently on the slide.

Individual errors were to blame for last weekend's reverse at Middlesbrough, with Sol Bamba's slip-up and Bellusci's own goal proving to be the Yorkshire outfit's downfall. As things stand, Leeds find themselves four points of the playoff zone and also four points off relegation, which pretty much sums things up nicely.

Birmingham have managed to steer themselves back on track following three games without a win, on the other hand, with a shock home defeat at the hands of Rotherham United looking as though it could see the tide change. Credit to Gary Rowett's men, though, because they bounced back at Brentford in midweek and now find themselves in seventh place.

A win here today will ensure that they end the weekend in the playoff zone, and if they are to leave with all three points then Donaldson will no doubt prove key. The in-form striker has played a part in eight of his side's 14 goals so far this season, with four strikes and four assists to his name.

DID YOU KNOW? Leeds have not won at home in their last four attempts, in a run stretching back to last March. Birmingham, on the other hand, have won four and lost none of their last six on the road in the Championship.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! The whites have won just one of their last four matches against Birmingham at Elland Road, although today's visitors are without a win against Leeds in four meetings now. That comes on the back of a run of four-successive victories, so they will need to rectify that this afternoon.

The two sets of players are now out onto the field, but there is still time to check out the views of the Sports Mole Sofa team prior to kickoff

KICKOFF! Birmingham get us underway at Elland Road, aiming to pick up successive wins in order to head into the international break sitting inside the top six.

There is a good atmosphere being generated at this famous ground this afternoon, as both sets of fans look to spur on their respective sides. Leeds are already looking to get Buckley on the ball; a player with Premier League experience.

Birmingham earn themselves an early corner, but Cotterill's delivery was not the greatest and Leeds easily cleared away. Neither side able to settle into any sort of rhythm thus far following a rather frantic start.

Gray and Wood both have tame attempts on goal, with neither able to trouble the opposition keeper. A lively start at Elland Road, with both teams looking to put together some early attacking moves.

Taylor and Dallas link-up well in the best flowing move of the game so far, which culminates in Wood seeing his first-time effort deflect wide. Still goalless but certainly encouraging signs from the hosts over the past few minutes.

It is still the hosts who are asking all the questions at the moment, putting together some decent moves in the attacking third which are just not quite coming off. Uwe Rosler will certainly be encouraged by what he has seen so far.

Caddis chips one into the back-post area, but Silvestri reads the danger well to collect. These high levels of intensity are showing no signs of dropping at the moment.

Both sets of players are doing well to close down the ball, which is only adding to the rushed feel of these opening 15 minutes. I'm expecting the levels to drop somewhat as the half goes on, but right now it is a decent watch as both continue to push forward.

An entertaining start it may have been, yet we are still to see any real chances. A lack of quality in attacking areas is to blame for that, with Leeds in particular guilty of being a little too fancy when on the ball.

YELLOW CARD! Liam Cooper, in for Bellusci this afternoon, earns himself an early booking after bringing down Cotterill. The Scotsman has to be careful for the remaining 70 minutes or so.

Davis is quickest to a loose ball on the edge of the box, which he blasts well over. Still yet to see a single shot on target in the opening quarter of this Championship clash.

SHOT! Berardi fires in a low shot on goal from the edge of the box, which was straight at Kuszczak down the middle.

Buckley has not had quite the influence on this game that he would have liked in the opening 25 minutes, but Leeds still look to pick him out on the flank. The tempo has certainly slowed down somewhat now.

Some good work by Cook in midfield gets supporters excited, but Leeds fail to make the most of the attack and have to settle for a corner which comes to nothing.

Leeds have certainly seen more of the ball so far, but it is Birmingham who take the lead thanks to their cutting edge in attack. The chance looked to have gone when Donaldson lost possession, yet Gray was on hand to pick up the ball inside the box and fire home superbly beyond Silvestri.

Demarai Gray's strike on the half-hour mark has edged Birmingham ahead at Elland Road

© Getty Images

SHOT! City look to use the momentum from the goal, which was arguably against the run of play, by pushing forward and earning a free kick. Despite being all of 35 yards out, Cotterill opted to take the shot on and it bounced awkwardly in front of Silvestri, who recovered well to collect the follow-up.

Just not working for United at the moment, who are still seeing plenty of the ball but not doing a great deal with it. The difference so far has been Birmingham's ability to take the one half-chance which fell their way thanks to Gray's rifled drive.

Cotterill uses his impressive delivery skills to swing in another set-piece, but Davis was flagged for a foul at the back post to see the latest attack come to an abrupt end.

A bit of frustration can be sensed from the stands now, as Leeds continue to labour away without troubling Birmingham. Kuszczak has been very comfortable between the sticks so far this afternoon, with four minutes to go before the interval.

SAVE! Birmingham come close to doubling their advantage through Gray, who managed to get a shot away from the edge of the box despite seemingly losing his footing, but Silvestri was quick down to push the ball to one side.

SAVE! Glorious chance for Leeds - easily their best of the half - which Dallas probably should have made more of. The ex-Brentford man was slipped in at an angle, but his curler was brilliantly kept out by Kuszczak to keep Birmingham in front.

We are into the second of three added on minutes at the end of this first half, and City look comfortable on the ball once more following that Dallas scare. Things are just threatening to boil over a little following a series of niggling challenges.

Birmingham see out that late Leeds thread to take a one-goal lead into half time. Demarai Gray bagged the so-far decisive strike just after the half-hour mark, with what was essentially the Blues' first real promising attacking move.

The opening quarter of the game was certainly lively, with both teams taking it in turns to get bodies forward. It was Leeds who saw more of the ball, but neither side were able to get a meaningful effort on goal until Gray's breakthrough.

The only other chances came in the final few minutes before half time, as first Gray saw as his effort from the edge of the box pushed aside by Silvestri, before Kuszczak got a hand to Dallas's curling effort which was destined for the top corner of the net.

BENCH WATCH!

LEEDS UNITED SUBS: Turnbull, Wootton, Bellusci, Adeyemi, Botaka, Byram, Antenucci

BIRMINGHAM CITY SUBS: Legzdins, Solomon-Otabor, Brown, Magahoma, Toral, Spector, Brock-Madsen

United boss Uwe Rosler may be tempted into making a change at the break, but his side's solid end to the opening 45 minutes may be enough to see the German keep faith until the hour. Opposite number Gary Rowett will be happy enough with what he has seen from his side, meanwhile, as the teams emerge for the second half.

Uwe Rosler has opted against making any changes at the break, as his side chase down a one-goal deficit

© Getty Images

RESTART! The Whites get proceedings back underway in West Yorkshire. A fast, positive start is needed to get the home supporters firmly behind them.

The first attempt of the second half comes via Gleeson, who lets rip from 25 yards out on the volley. The ball flew well wide of goal in the end, however, to the delight of the home supporters inside Elland Road.

Mowatt is picked out by Dallas inside the box, but he fails to trouble Kuszczak with his attempt. Good start to the half for Leeds, but it appears to be a case of same old at the moment as they struggle to find the additional quality needed in attack.

The attendance has just been announced at 24,601, including 898 from Birmingham. Those home supporters were desperate for a promotion push this campaign, or at least a season that offered some hope, but as things stand it is similar disappointment after 10 games.

Donaldson gets in behind Cooper for the first time this half, but he completely miscues his shot with the ball ending closer to Row Z than the back of the net. That has to go down as half a chance.

CLOSE! A decent cross into the box is well defended by Robinson for a corner. The set piece is met by a climbing Bamba, who heads a yard or so wide of goal.

LEEDS UNITED SUB! Buckley's debut lasts for just short of an hour, with Jordan Botaka coming on for these final 30 minutes.

Some decent play from Birmingham earns them a corner, which is easily dealt with by the hosts. This one is a little more open that Leeds would have liked, as they aim to cancel out that Gray opener.

YELLOW CARD! David Davis catches Charlie Taylor with a late challenge to earn his side's first booking. A few shouts for a red from the home stands, but that was certainly not worthy of a dismissal.

BIRMINGHAM CITY SUB! Jacques Maghoma replaces David Cotterill in the Blues' first alteration of the afternoon.

YELLOW CARD! Play is massively disjointed at the moment, as Cook earns a booking of his own for a foul on Morrison. Leeds need to find so momentum again.

A superb, last-ditch tackle from Berardi denies Donaldson the chance to burst through on goal. Antenucci is now on for Mowatt.

CHANCES! This game has just burst well into life, with a number of chances in the space of 60 seconds. First, Cook saw his drive well pushed aside by Kuszczak, before City sprung a counter-attack and had men over. Donaldson failed to pick out a teammate, but Leeds could not clear and Kieftenbeld's weak attempt was stopped on the line.

Leeds are currently knocking on the door in search of an equaliser, with both Dallas and Cook coming close to finding a way through

Stuart Dallas #lufc pic.twitter.com/lG5PgjxxMI — LUFC Pictures (@LUFCPictures) October 3, 2015

LEEDS UNITED SUB! Sam Byram replaces Gaetano Berardi for the home side as we enter the final 15 minutes. This is a really entertaining spell in the game, but Leeds still cannot find a way past Kuszczak between the Birmingham sticks.

BIRMINGHAM CITY SUB! Spector replaces Davis for the Blues, meaning a slight reshuffle. Leeds have used all their substitutions, but the visitors still have one more roll of the dice should they need it.

Antenucci earns a corner when in a promising position, but the subsequent cross is easily headed away. Leeds now have the momentum that they were so desperately craving, so can they make the most of it in these final 12 minutes?

BIRMINGHAM CITY SUB! Grounds sees his header kept out by Silvestri, as Birmingham make their final change of the contest. Viv Solomon-Otabor is on for goalscorer Demarai Gray.

Some really good pressing from United, who really are closing in on a goal now. Antenucci just about got his foot to a ball over the top, but Morrison did enough to deny the forward making clean contact. Every Birmingham player looking to get back now.

Birmingham deserve huge praise if they do see this one through, because it has very much been the classic away performance. It is set to be a very nervy finish at this rate, yet they appear to have seen out the worst of the pressure now.

Birmingham will climb up to fifth if things remain this way, which is fantastic going by Rowett's men. Leeds, on the other hand, will head into the international break down in 16th place - not so great. Four minutes left for all that to change, but not a great deal happening at the moment.

On the basis of the last couple of minutes, Birmingham are just as likely to find the game's second goal as their opponents are. It is pretty end-to-end - not really sure who that suits!

Some fine defending from Gleeson denies Antenucci a clean break through, as Leeds again have to settle for a corner. Bamba again got his head to it, but this time it was well wide.

Well that settles it! Maghoma makes no mistake when latching on to a loose ball to maintain Birmingham's unbeaten away record and wrap up the points for his side. The substitute kept his cool to rifle a low effort past Silvestri.

Huge disappointment for Leeds, then, who have now won just one of their last five meetings with Birmingham on home soil. More worryingly, they remain closer to the bottom than they do the top.

Well you have to say that was a superb away performance from Birmingham City, who remained disciplined throughout and plucked off their opponents to maintain this impressive unbeaten run away from home.

Demarai Gray opened the scoring for the visitors shortly after the half-hour mark, before substitute Jacques Maghoma made certain of the points late on. Leeds had chances to level it up at 1-0, but they struggled to make any real clear-cut openings to ensure that they remain down in 16th place heading into the international break.

Well that is all from me for this evening in terms of live text coverage, but be sure to stick around with commentary from the late Premier League kickoff still to come here on Sports Mole.