Birmingham hold Terry’s Villans to goalless draw

LONDON: Clappers thrown onto the pitch by fans marred as Aston Villa kept up their unbeaten record in the goalless draw against Birmingham.

Claret-and-blue cards had inexplicably been put on supporters’ seats prior to this fierce rivalry.

They were soon turned into paper projectiles as many of the home faithful took aim at the away players.

It did not stop Steve Bruce’s side, who hit the bar twice late on, from taking a point in Birmingham chief Steve Cotterill’s third game in charge.

And it meant Villa have still not lost a league game against their arch-rivals – who missed a glorious chance when Jota fired over – since March 2005.

Most of the action in this clash came from fans lobbing on their clappers and plastic bottles.

It started in the first half when Robert Snodgrass was delayed taking a corner amid flying missiles.

And it continued throughout with Villa keeper Sam Johnstone a target as well as Glenn Whelan when the midfielder lay injured on the far side of the pitch.

In terms of actual chances, they were few and far between in a game high on commitment but low on quality.

Jonathan Kodjia headed wide with three minutes played while John Terry, fresh off his first Villa goal last week against Fulham, headed straight at Tomasz Kuszczak from Snodgrass’ aforementioned corner.

Cheikh Ndoye should have done better when Marc Roberts picked him out six minutes before the break with a pinpoint cross but the powerhouse midfielder headed straight at Johnston.

Jota had the best opportunity of the game four minutes into the second half when a weak Conor Hourihane pass played him clean through, but the Spaniard woefully skied over the bar.

The result kept Villa in the top six while moving the hosts a point further clear of the dropzone. — The Sun, London