Live Commentary

Last Updated at 7:59 pm, November 30th 2011

1. FT

   But it's far from over and fingers crossed Lady Luck will be shining on Chris Hughton's men in the final round of Group H games. Thanks for tuning in!

2. FT

   If only Zigic had buried that early penalty. If only Hugo Viana's shot hadn't taken the biggest of deflections off Curtis Davies. And if only Club Brugge hadn't remarkably fought back from a three-goal deficit to win 4-3 at Maribor. Combined it means Birmingham face a difficult task to qualify for the knockout stage.

3. FT

   And that is that. Birmingham put up a fantastic effort against last season's finalists - but are left rueing their misfortune.

4. 90+4

   Merida wriggles through Birmingham's midfield but loses composure and blasts over the bar with team-mates in better positions.

5. 90+3

   Murphy delivers into the box but a Birmingham head cannot reach the ball as Braga gratefully clear their lines.

6. 90+2

   Last chance saloon for Brum - can they grab a deserved leveller?

7. 90+1

   King drills a cross into the grateful hands of Quim in the first of four minutes stoppage time. Wasted opportunity.

8. 90

   Great low cross by Salino is just missed by Lima's sliding effort.

9. 89

   They win another free-kick on the halfway line which is pumped upfield by Myhill. After Braga clear the ball is lobbed back into the home box before Quim leaps to gather.

10. 88

    Birmingham will not give up that is for sure. They win a corner but Murphy is beaten to Burke's set-piece by a host of Braga defenders

11. 87

    If, and that's a big if, the scores in Braga and Maribor stay the same then qualification will be out of Birmingham's hands in the final round of games.

12. 86

    Alan goes into the book for diving. Tut tut.

13. 85

    Oh dear! Bad news Blues as Club Brugge have unbelievably got an equaliser - looks like I jinxed Maribor. So sorry.

14. 84

    Mossoro is given a standing ovation by the home fans as he jogs off. Former Arsenal youngster Fran Merida is his replacement.

15. 83

    Lima is allowed to turn ouside the away area and fires a powerful shot at Myhill, who does well to make the ball stick to his body.

16. 82

    David Murphy seems to be hobbling - bad news as Brum have already used all three subs.

17. 81

    Uh oh. Club Brugge have somehow clawed back to 3-2 against Maribor.

18. 80

    CHANCE!! And Braga spurn a great chance to wrap up victory. Lima bursts clear but Myhill stands tall to superbly block. Then Paulo Cesar's blazes the rebound over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

19. 79

    Hugo Viana reckons he has been caught in the face and gets treatment from the Braga medical staff. And he wastes some vital seconds of course...

20. 78

    Braga have a man down and Birmingham are refusing to put the ball out of play - hence a huge chorus of boos from the home crowd.

21. 77

    So a win for Maribor (providing they don't throw away their 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes) means Birmingham just need to beat the Slovenians in the final group game - regardless of this result in Braga.

22. 76

    That's the end of Zigic's involvement with Chris Wood being introduced by Chris Hughton in his place.

23. 75

    Some good news though Blues. Maribor now winning 3-0 against Club Brugge.

24. 74

    Birmingham press again. Zigic belies his gangly frame to skin Douglao down the right flank but his final ball towards Burke in the area was poor. Chance lost.

25. 73

    Decent effort from Zigic as he heads Murphy's swinging cross over the bar. Was difficult to control his header with two defenders squeezing him out.

26. 72

    That comes to nothing as Birmingham defend the set-piece well again.

27. 71

    Viana involved again as Braga look to kill off Birmingham. But his shot is deflected wide for a home corner.

28. 70

    And that's the end of Elderson's night as he hobbles off to be replaced by Douglao.

29. 69

    Barbosa comes off for Braga - quite surprised because he's looked very lively - and is replaced by Paulo Cesar.

30. 68

    Short break in play as Elderson goes down with a knock.

31. 67

    CHANCE! But King and Burke get in the way of each other when a cross from the Birmingham left falls at the far post.

32. 66

    So we've just seen a couple of bold attacking changes by the Blues. King goes up top alongside Zigic with Redmond's pace and trickery looking to make in-roads down Braga's right.

33. 65

    Wicked cross by Barbosa flashes across the face of the Blues goal. But a Braga team-mate cannot get a vital touch and the away team escape.

34. 64

    Double substitution for the Blues. Marlon King and Nathan Redmond enter the fray in place of Wade Elliott and Jean Beausejour.

35. 63

    Burke earns a Brum corner which Caldwell can't get back into the dangerzone at the far post.

36. 62

    Myhill gets down to comfortably gather a Lima shot. I'm a little worried that Braga may capitalise on some of the space opening up behind Birmingham now.

37. 61

    Nice interplay between Barbosa and Viana in the Brum area before the latter pokes the ball straight at Myhill. Not sure what he was doing there to be honest - he really lacked conviction.

38. 60

    Wasted cross from Murphy into the dangerzone is headed clear.

39. 59

    The hosts waste the corner but it spurs the Braga fans into finding their voice for the first time tonight as the atmosphere cranks up a notch.

40. 58

    Then they're forced onto the back foot as Lima miscues his shot when well placed in the box, before Caldwell bravely gets in the way of a fierce long-range shot.

41. 57

    Still Birmingham press with successive corners before N'Daw blazes over.

42. 56

    Then Burke's deep cross is headed away by the Braga defence as Zigic waits to pounce.

43. 55

    But then Birmingham enjoy a decent spell of pressure down the right with Burke twice the architect. First the Scot plays a square ball to Fahey whose speculative shot is blocked.

44. 54

    Unfortunately they can't get hold of the ball at the moment as Braga look increasingly confident following the goal.

45. 53

    Will that spur Chris Hughton into an early second-half substitution? Be interesting to see how they react to that blow.

46. 52

    Very, very cruel for the Blues as Viana's woeful 20-yard shot looks to be heading towards the corner flag until it deflects horribly off Davies and past a stranded Myhill.

47. 51

    GOAL! Oh no! Disaster for Birmingham as Hugo Viana puts Braga ahead.

48. 50

    N'Daw clumsily barges into the Braga right-back and gives away a cheap free-kick deep in home territory.

49. 49

    Interesting stat for the fact fans out there. Only three of Braga's team in last season's Europa League final have started tonight.

50. 48

    Barbosa tangles legs with Beausejour in the Birmingham penalty area and the visitors win a free-kick.

51. 47

    But they're on the back foot straight away as Viana tries to slip through Barbosa. Myhill is more alert than the home forward though and slides out to gather.

52. 46

    We're back underway with Birmingham aiming to make another impressive start.

53. HT

    James McLachlan from Glasgow asks: "Do you think Chris Burke is a key player for Birmingham?" Certainly he has been tonight James. Every time he has got the ball at his feet he has run at the Braga defence and caused havoc. Can he continue that in the second half?

54. HT

    All in all a good half for the English side against their much-fancied Portuguese opponents. Though mixed emotions as Birmingham must be shaking their heads at spurning the chance to go ahead through Nikola Zigic's early penalty. But they have defended resolutely against increasing Braga pressure. All to play for in the second half!

55. HT

    And seconds later the referee brings an exciting, but goalless, first-half to a close.

56. 45+1

    Alan manages to beat Spector but can't find a team-mate in the box.

57. 45

    One minute of added time expected.

58. 44

    It seems to give Brum a boost though as they launch another attack with Burke, who has had the beating of Elderson and Ewerton all night long. His pull-back finds Fahey whose drills a low shot straight into the hands of Quim.

59. 43

    Zigic wriggles clear from his marker in a rare foray into Braga territory. However he fails to pick out Elliott's run.

60. 42

    But they have been very well organised and are proving difficult for Braga to break down.

61. 41

    Birmingham struggling to enjoy the dominance of the opening 15 minutes - reckon Hughton will be hoping his side can just hang on until the break now.

62. 40

    Then Barbosa misses a golden opportunity to punish Birmingham by completing missing his kick after a good cutback into the box.

63. 39

    Caldwell gets done over by the trickery of Barbosa and unashamedly holds the player back on halfway to stop a Braga attack. Booking.

64. 37

    Good work from Salino as he gets his body between an advancing Murphy and the ball as the Brum left-back looks to burst into the Braga box.

65. 36

    Brum hardly having a kick now, as expected it has to be said, but they are defending resolutely and limiting the home team to half chances.

66. 35

    Mossoro flies through the core of the Birmingham team like a sprint hurdler before Beausejour saves the day. The Chilean produces some excellent tracking back to get an important to toe on the ball in his own dangerzone.

67. 33

    Burke has a chance to give Birmingham a little restbite as he breaks clear down the right, but he is quickly closed down and Braga nick back possession.

68. 32

    And Barbosa and Alan, who have switched flanks, send in a couple more testing balls that are swiftly cleared.

69. 31

    Barbosa looks a tricky customer and he whips in a left-foot cross which is blocked by the Birmingham defence.

70. 30

    Caldwell hacks clear for another Braga corner, which Zigic nods away at the near post. It falls to the left-footed Viana who smashes over with his right 'chocolate' leg.

71. 29

    Fantastic block by Elliott on the edge of his own box to snuff out some more danger.

72. 28

    Good news Brum fans - Maribor beating your rivals Club Brugge in the other Group H game.

73. 26

    Poor effort from Mossoro who curls an ambitious shot out for a goal-kick to the dismay of his team-mates. They were looking for a cross.

74. 25

    Then they win a corner off Davies, who has repelled every Braga attack, but Birmingham clear the set-piece comfortably.

75. 24

    Beausejour dispossessed by Alan - possibly the least exotic Brazilian name ever - but the home team can't take advantage.

76. 23

    Burke caught offside from a long Spector ball from the back. Moving the ball quickly down the flanks from defence has certainly been Brum's most potent weapon in this first quarter.

77. 22

    A quiet lull in the game after an explosive start.

78. 21

    Former Newcastle man Hugo Viana (remember him?) is the man who Braga are looking at to pull the strings. Not doing it yet mind.

79. 20

    Burke sends a deep, searching cross into the home box but it evades Zigic as Quim punches away the danger. They love a good punch clear, do these continental keepers!

80. 19

    Davies smashes clear another right-wing Braga cross as the hosts finally start asking questions of the visitors.

81. 18

    Now the hosts get the ball down and look to quell the Blues tide. Spector heads a cross clear before Davies makes an important block.

82. 17

    Confident Brum are playing with a real swagger as they keep switching play and look to exploit Braga down the flanks.

83. 16

    It is all Birmingham at the moment! Unbelievable start from the English side. Braga are on the ropes.

84. 15

    CHANCE! Another Brum opportunity goes begging as another Murphy delivery is met at the far post by captain Caldwell. But the Scot can't get a firm enough head on the ball and Quim saves his side again.

85. 14

    Murphy fires a left foot free-kick in and Quim smothers with Zigic lurking.

86. 13

    And then the Braga man recklessly slides in on Burke just outside the box. Surely another yellow card and therefore a red?!? No, the referee has bottled it.

87. 12

    Well, you don't a better opportunity to open the scoring than that. Ewerton was cautioned for that challenge by the way.

88. 11

    MISSED! Oh no...Zigic! He drills it low to the keeper's left and Quim gets down well to save. Big opportunity missed for Birmingham.

89. 10

    PENALTY TO BIRMINGHAM!! Wade Elliott is grappled to the ground by Ewerton. Stonewall penalty.

90. 9

    But then Wade Elliot gambles on a Zigic flick-on and justs sees the ball run agonisingly away from him as Portuguese stopper Quim gathers.

91. 8

    Bit of head tennis between the two backlines at the moment. It's like being at Wimbledon!

92. 7

    Brum know they will have to be patient and keep disciplined as Braga are likely to dominate possession. But they have certainly seen plenty of the ball themselves in these opening minutes.

93. 6

    CHANCE! Burke again scampers down the right and cuts back to Beausejour whose glancing header flies wide. Good start from the Championship side.

94. 5

    The Portuguese side play a short corner and it is well-read by Spector who quickly closes down his opponents and wins back possession.

95. 4

    Braga quickly move up the other end and earn their first corner off Spector.

96. 3

    But the Blues do get the corner and Burke aims for big Zigic before the hosts clear.

97. 2

    Positive early run from Chris Burke whose cross is handled by Braga man Elderson. But he was stumbling over as his outstretched arm was hit by the ball and the ref rules it wasn't deliberate.

98. 1

    Referee Markus Strombergsson from Sweden blows his whistle and Braga get the game underway!

99. 5.58pm

    Right the teams have walked out of the tunnel and are going through the usual pre-match handshakes in Portugal. We're seconds away from kick-off!

100. 5.55pm

     Braga, last season's beaten Europa League finalists remember, need a win tonight to seal their place in the knockout stages. That would be by virtue of their better head-to-head record against Birmingham. A Brum win wouldn't seal their passage quite yet - but they would be within touching distance.

101. 5.53pm

     John Matthews, a Birmingham fan living in Middlesbrough, has been in touch. He says: "Hi Jon, hope you enjoy the match!Think it might start off a bit gruelling but that's a very attacking bench from us, going to be a very tense match against a very good side. Keep Right On." Cheers John, let's hope we all enjoy the match!

102. 5.50pm

     Braga boss Leonardo Jardim, without as many as 10 members of his squad, makes three changes from the side who lost 3-2 to Porto at the weekend.

103. 5.45pm

     So Chris Hughton makes just two changes for the Group H tie. Nikola Zigic, who salvaged a point in last weekend's 2-2 draw at Blackpool, comes in for Marlon King at the head of a 4-4-1-1 formation. Midfielder Guirane N'Daw replaces the rested Stephen Carr, with Jonathan Spector reverting to right-back.

104. 5.42pm

     Braga: Quim, Leandro Salino, Paulo Vinicius, Ewerton, Echiejile, Djamal, Hugo Viana, Alan, Mossoro, Helder Barbosa, Lima. Subs: Berni, Rodrigo Galo, Paulo Cesar, Merida, Nuno Gomes, Douglao, Nuninho.

105. 5.38pm

     Here's the all-important teams...first up is the Blues. Birmingham: Myhill, Spector, Caldwell, Davies, Murphy, N'Daw, Elliott, Fahey, Burke, Beausejour, Zigic. Subs: Doyle, Ibanez, King, Gomis, Rooney, Redmond, Wood.

106. 5.31pm

     As ever I want to know what you fans have to say. Can't imagine too many Braga fans are following my words of wisdom (ahem) so it's down to the Bluenoses out there to provide some banter. Tweet me @J_Jurejko or drop an email to jonathan.jurejko@bskyb.com with your pre-match thoughts and opinions. Please.

107. 5.30pm

     Good evening ladies and gents! Welcome to our live minute-by-minute commentary of Birmingham's trip to Portuguese outfit Braga in the crunch Europa League clash between the sides. My name is Jonathan Jurejko and I'll be giving you every cough and splutter - quite apt with the UK's wintry weather I think - from the game.