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By Mike Henson

1426: Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay puffs out his cheeks in the posh seats as the match comes to an end and what remains of the home crowd boos.

David Morris on Twitter:  "What a load of rubbish- I think AVB may have had his chips- so poor at the moment."

1426: Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay puffs out his cheeks in the posh seats as the match comes to an end and what remains of the home crowd boos.

FULL-TIME: Chelsea 1-1 Birmingham

1423: Birmingham pump into the Chelsea box from a deep free-kick, but Curtis Davies can only direct his header over the top.

1421: Lampard cracks it into the base of the Birmingham wall and the chance is gone. Three minutes of injury time to see a winner emerge.

1420: Possibly the last chance for Chelsea who have a free-kick on the edge of the box with Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard over it...

1418: A late opening from Birmingham as David Luiz steps up and fails to win his header. Nathan Redmond nips in behind him but he doesn't look comfortable and runs around the ball to take a shot with his favoured right foot. It is a bit of a duffer and runs gently through to Petr Cech.

1415: A big penalty shout for Chelsea as Branislav Ivanovic attempts to surge on to Didier Drogba's smart backheel. The Serbian hits the deck as a defender runs across the back of him, but Martin Atkinson is not interested.

David Pleat on BBC Radio 5 live: "Although Chelsea have completely dominated possession in this half, Colin Doyle hasn't been unduly worried."

1414: Frank Lampard trots on but the crowd are not happy about the fact that Juan Mata is the man heading in the opposite direction. Chris Burke has replaced Wade Elliott for Birmingham.

1413: There are four fixtures in the Scottish Premier League today with troubled Rangers expected to have the biggest football crowd in the UK today for the home game with Kilmarnock. Thomas McGuigan will guide you through all today's Scottish football action.

Adam, from Kidderminster, texts: "It doesn't matter if Chelsea win this now, it will just mask what is clear to everyone - AVB doesn't seem to be getting anywhere near the best out of these players."

1411: Ten minutes remaining and Chelsea are still probing around the fringes of the Birmingham box. There is not a lot of penetration though and Frank Lampard is being readied on the sidelines for the home side.

1408: Jordan Mutch wins a free-kick for Birmingham. It is 40-odd yards out but he takes it on himself with a decent low hit thudding into Petr Cech's midriff.

Mark Lawrence on Twtter:  "That's why Sturridge is a great player, becoming all rounded."

1404: Raul Meireles sees an effort from the edge of the box, deflect down into the turf and loop over the bar. Chelsea sense they are getting closer.

1403: Chris Hughton has removed Adam Rooney and thrown on Jake Jervis for Birmingham.

1402: Branislav Ivanovic almost gets on to a loose ball in the area after Juan Mata's cross has been fended away by the Birmingham defence. Wade Elliott is across sharply to block his effort.

1400: Birmingham has dropped back since the goal and it has allowed Branislav Ivanovic to press forward more and more frequently on the right flank. The Serbian has had a good game, looking neat and tidy on the ball.

1358: Didier Drogba manages to convince Martin Atkinson to give a free-kick with a trademark theatrical fall. From his reaction as he picks himself up he seems to think he has been pinched on the arm. Bizarre.

1356: Massive relief around Stamford Bridge as that goal went in and I suspect it was particularly felt in the home dug-out.

GOLAFLASH: Chelsea 1-1 Birmingham (Sturridge)

Branislav Ivanovic gets his head up out on the right flank and whips over a pinpoint cross that Daniel Sturridge snaps his neck muscles into, directing a powerful header down into the bottom corner past a helpless Colin Doyle.

1351: Another delicious first touch from Juan Mata as he tames a bullet fired his way from a defensive colleague. He is briefly free of Curtis Davies' attentions but fires his shot narrowly wide.

1349: Andre Villas-Boas ditches the defensive anchor as he replaces Jon Obi Mikel with Salomon Kalou.

1347: A neat set-piece routine from Birmingham as David Murphy dummies Jordan Mutch's low corner and Nathan Redmond is poised behind him. The youngster crashes his shot well over the bar though.

1344: Adam Rooney tussles with Gary Cahill as he attempts to break upfield in pursuit of an attempted through ball. The Chelsea defender is the one pinged by Martin Atkinson and he becomes the second player booked.

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty  on Twitter: "Torres hooked at half-time. Been really hoping he would recapture the brilliance of his Liverpool days but hope running out now."

1341: Didier Drogba barges his way after Branislav Ivanovic's cross-field hoof. It has too much pace on it for the Ivorian, but he retrieves the ball and plants it back on the turf for Colin Doyle's free-kick. The crowd lap it up and there feels like there is life in this Chelsea side again.

1338: Didier Drogba is sniffing around a long ball forward, chasing it all the way through to Colin Doyle and earning grateful cheers from the home support.

Elad Levy on Twitter:  "Fans chanting for Mourinho in San Siro last night and Stamford Bridge today. That's special!"

1336: Not long is the answer. Fernando Torres off and Didier Drogba on as the second half gets under way.

1333: How long will Andre Villas-Boas be able to resist throwing on Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard? Could his skin be saved by the Stamford Bridge old guard who he has been employed to oversee the gradual exit off?

Tor Noppharat on Twitter:  "AVB, you have 45 min more to save your job. Chelsea players, only 45 min more till job complete."

Kush, from London, texts: "This is shocking. The Chelsea starting eleven are all aged under 30. No excuses."

1328: Suddenly there feels like there is a whole lot more than a quarter-final place at stake. If Chelsea had been behind but looked coherent and dangerous, they might have kept the crowd with them. As it is, it feels like Andre Villas-Boas's hold on their affections might be reaching a potentially fatal tipping point.

David Pleat on BBC Radio 5 live: "Chelsea playing against a very patient side, they're not pushing people forward, they're not playing recklessly. They've got to get someone up alongside Torres, there's a lack of penetration with a Lampard-like figure coming through the centre."

Owen Phillips reports from Stamford Bridge:

Beleaguered Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has had to play down the significance of some of his squad texting former manager Jose Mourinho. Following this first half, owner Roman Abramovich may be putting the Real Madrid boss back on speed dial. Chelsea have created little, missed a penalty and the visitors deserved to go ahead. AVB may only have 45 minutes to save his job.

BBC Radio 5 live's Mark Pougatch  , at Goodison Park for Everton v Blackpool, on Twitter: "Kevin Ratcliffe with us at Goodison today still laughing at my assertion that "Mata will definitely, definitely score this penalty...""

David Pleat on BBC Radio 5 live: "I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the Chelsea dressing room at half-time. I just wonder if the manager will look at Mikel and wonder if he can dispense with him in midfield and put another attacker on."

1320: A rumble of discontent greets the half-time whistle. Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck is on his feet applauding but he doesn't have a lot of company.

HALF-TIME: Chelsea 0-1 Birmingham

1319: Fernando Torres miscontrols Branislav Ivanovic's low cross and the ball flicks up for Juan Mata to nod at goal. A comfortable save for Colin Doyle from the diminutive playmaker though.

Ryan Smith on Twitter:  "Could be the most important team-talk of AVB's career."

1315 : A chant of Jose Mourinho's name goes round Stamford Bridge and it gathers a fair bit of momentum before dying out.

1314 : Jon Obi Mikel tries his luck from further out and makes a slightly grubby connection. The ball trails wide.

1312 : Great technique from Daniel Sturridge as he lashes a dipping half-volley a foot over from 25 yards. That at least woke up some of the home fans.

1310 : Nathan Redmond has another little burst down the left and fires in on optimistic shot from a tightening angle. Petr Cech is down in plenty of time to claim it, but Birmingham have looked as likely to get a second as to be pegged back.

Dave in London texts: "We were poor under Big Phil, not great at times under Carlo, but it has been a long time since I have seen a Chelsea team as incompetent as this. Truly shocking."

1307 : David Luiz dusts himself down and slaps a shot goalwards from the resulting free-kick. It is a sweetly struck effort and Colin Doyle has to be alert to push it off the bar.

1306 : David Luiz sets off on an amble upfield and skips past a couple of Birmingham midfielders before being dumped on his backside by Jordan Mutch. Referee Martin Atkinson adds Mutch's name to his little black book.

1304 : Juan Mata butchers an attempted chipped through ball and the ball flies clean through to Colin Doyle. Worrying for Chelsea when their best player starts catching the bug.

David Pleat on BBC Radio 5 live: "It was a silly challenge from Wade Elliott, he didn't have to go in. That was a fine save though and should give Birmingham great heart. It's on such moments that seasons get defined, that cup glory begins."

1300 : Fernando Torres almost gets a touch as he canters on to Daniel Sturridge's low cross, but Curtis Davies does very well to nip in front of the striker and poke it away from him.

1256: Wade Elliott's needless hack at Ramires' shins gives Juan Mata the chance to haul his side back level after a little over a minute. The Spaniard's penalty is hard and low, but not quite far enough into the bottom left and a sprawling Colin Doyle palms it on to the post. A superb stop.

PENALTY SAVED

CHELSEA PENALTY

GOALFLASH: Chelsea 0-1 Birmingham (Murphy)

Trouble at the Bridge. It is not much of a delivery from the corner but Nathan Redmond's set-piece skids through the six-yard box and after Curtis Davies has swiped and missed, David Murphy applies the finishing touch at the far post.

1251: Jon Obi Mikel punts aimlessly long with on blue shirts anywhere in sight of where the pass endsn up. The crowd were not impressed.

Tottenham fan Luka texts: "People need to drop the pressure on Torres a bit, he's not worth 50 million, but he's still a great striker and the pressure is clearly getting to him, its games like these that will help him regain confidence and find his old form."

Tom Whall on Twitter:  "Nice to see Nathan Redmond on show today. Fantastic talent."

1249: Juan Mata almost drags down Daniel Sturridge's cross at it loops over the top of Jonathan Spector, but the ball trickles off his in-step and the chance goes with it.

1247: Stephen Carr has hobbled off after getting caught by Ryan Bertrand a little earlier in the piece. He is replaced by former West Ham man Jonathan Spector who gets the welcome you might expect an ex-Hammer to get.

1244: Nathan Redmond has a run at Gary Cahill and earns a corner, but David Luiz sees off the set-piece.

1243: Daniel Sturridge attempts to skirt round Curtis Davies as Juan Mata's run drags Stephen Carr away to create a bit of space. Davies has a slip and a slide during the chase but just about recovers to snuff out the danger.

David Pleat on Birmingham's Nathan Redmond on BBC Radio 5 live: "He's exploded onto the scene this season, a lot of scouts are looking at him. It'll be fascinating to see how he copes, he'll be up against Ivanovic who's a very strong defender."

1237: Birmingham's away kit is a right old hodge-podge of colours with a yellow shirt on top of their normal white and blue home shorts and socks. I can not see it on offer in their online club shop  and it doesn't surprise me.

1235: Branislav Ivanovic makes an early foray forward down the right flank, but runs the ball just a little too far and it is out for a goal-kick. Birmingham fans have taken all of three minutes to tell Andre Villas-Boas he is getting sacked in the morning and advise Fernando Torres that he doesn't know what he is doing.

1232: A little late, but we are up and running in west London.

1231: John Motson on BBC Radio 5 live says he has spoken to Chelsea captain John Terry who says it is unlikely that he will be fit to face Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday despite returning to training. The defender is currently out of action with a knee injury.

Sekar C on Twitter:  "Wondering how many goals Lukaku would have scored had he started instead of Torres."

1229: Captain Stephen Carr has a little chat with the Birmingham mascot before leading his yellow-shirted visitors out onto the pitch. Nice touch. Kick-off in T minus one minute.

BBC pundit Gordon Strachan on Football Focus: "Andre Villas-Boas is a young manager who wants to keep the media happy. Sometimes he should just get on with his job quietly. I think he needs a bit of help from Chelsea instead of them saying answer all these questions."

1225: The teams are being announced at Stamford Bridge and the crowd react with regulation cheers and jeers according to which set of Blues is being read out.

Lewis in Sheffield texts: "People need to lay of AVB, he's inherited what is more or less still José's team. He needs to be given time to dismantle and put together his own squad."

Owen Phillips reports from Stamford Bridge:

Chelsea leave out midfield duo Michael Essien and Frank Lampard so the fit-again Ramires and John Obi Mikel start. Misfiring forward Fernando Torres gets another chance to impress but Didier Drogba is back on the bench and Gary Cahill and Ryan Bertrand come into the defence.Birmingham's selection problems all come up front where Nicola Zigic and Marlon King are both ruled through injury, meaning Adam Rooney comes in to lead the line.

Chelsea v Birmingham

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel, Meireles, Sturridge, Torres, Mata. Subs: Hilario, Essien, Lampard, Drogba, Malouda, Bosingwa, Kalou.

Birmingham: Doyle, Carr, Davies, Ibanez, Murphy, Redmond, Fahey, Mutch, Elliott, Gomis, Rooney. Subs: Butland, Caldwell, Burke, Spector, Asante, Reilly, Jervis.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

1217: You have to get up early in then morning to keep up with Leeds chairman Ken Bates who has snared Neil Warnock to be manager until the end of next season. Can the former QPR and Sheffield United boss pull off his promotion party piece once again?

Cian Wolfe on Twitter:  "Some of AVBs decisions are a bit bizarre. Only Cahill's second game. And sturridge on the RW? No! Put him as CF!"

1210: Birmingham's fleet-footed young winger Nathan Redmond is one to watch today. He looked electric in the first game I saw him in against Maribor back in December.

Max from Gravesend texts: "I'm 21 today, an easy victory for Chelsea with no stress today would be the perfect birthday present!"

Chelsea fan Sam texts: "It says an awful lot about how far Chelsea have fallen under AVB that Birmingham at home looks like an upset."

1202: If you have a selection for your team's Cup final single or, bizarrely, have anything to say about the actual football, then we are here for you. Text on 81111 from within the UK, with FOOTBALL and your name on messages, or tweet on hashtag #bbcfootball   from anywhere. Go, go, go.

1157: The Blues are first up on the menu for today with an awkward encounter against Birmingham and there is a nice Premier League v Championship theme running through the main course. Here's how we go, with all kick-offs 1500 GMT unless otherwise stated:

Chelsea v Birmingham (1230 GMT)

Everton v Blackpool

Millwall v Bolton

Norwich v Leicester

Sunderland v Arsenal (1715 GMT)

1154: Judging by the reports coming out of Cobham, it might be difficult to herd the current Chelsea squad around the mic for a happy team sing-a-long. Manager Andre Villas-Boas has said it is 'normal' for some of his players not to back his project, as long as the owner does. Over to you Roman?

1151: I'm pretty sure that the sound of Dennis Wise, Gianfranco Zola and Suggs crooning Blue Day was what did for Middlesbrough in the 1997 Cup final. We need more of those fearsome battle cries.

BREAKING TEAM NEWS: Didier Drogba is on the bench for Chelsea with Fernando Torres, Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge up front. Gary Cahill starts in defence. More to come shortly.

1145: Is that the heady secent of silver polish in the air? The rustle of timetables to north-west London being checked? If your team is still in the FA Cup they are two victories from a Wembley semi. Three wins away and they will be able to head down the recording studio and revive that grand old tradition of the Cup final single.