Dyer’s sting in the tail for his favourites
ASTON Villa fan Lloyd Dyer hit their local rivals where it hurts for a second successive season as his winning goal left Harry Redknapp’s side beaten at Burton.
Veteran winger Dyer, a former Blues loanee, netted the second-half winner as Burton turned the game on its head with Marvin Sordell equalising just after half-time.
And Dyer won the battle of the old-boys after ex-Burton man Jacques Maghoma had fired Birmingham ahead before the break with his second goal in a week.
The sting in the tail for Dyer was his winner dropped Villa to the bottom of the table.
Burton threatened first through Tom Naylor, who rose highest in a congested penalty area to meet a corner from Matty Palmer, but keeper David Stockdale made a comfortable save.
The same was true for Stephen Bywater in the Burton goal moments later when he claimed a header from Lukas Jutkiewicz, and then denied a David Davis shot.
Birmingham continued to make the running but Burton failed to make the most of a great chance when a smart turn by Matthew Lund allowed him to find Sordell eight yards from goal, but he was thwarted by Stockdale’s low save.
They were punished in the 29th minute as Birmingham claimed a deserved lead.
Clayton Donaldson drifted wide to the right and crossed to the far post, when a towering header from
BURTON BIRMINGHAM
Jutkiewicz caused confusion in the Burton defence.
Their hesitation was all the encouragement Maghoma needed to pounce with a closerange finish, which was followed by muted celebrations out of respect for his former employers.
Burton rallied briefly before half-time with Naylor advancing from centre-back to deliver a cross from the right that curled towards goal and caused some alarm for Stockdale.
But the visiting goalkeeper watched the ball land on the roof of his net.
Burton had a chance early in the second half when a loose ball fell for Palmer, but the midfielder’s low effort was parried easily by Stockdale.
Burton then equalised through Sordell after 50 minutes.
He turned on the edge of the penalty area and drove a shot past Stockdale for his first goal of the season.
The goal lifted the hosts and they gave the visitors a further worry when Jackson Irvine’s angled pass found Naylor at the far post but he could not direct his shot on target.
And they screamed for a penalty when Luke Murphy clashed with Jonathan Grounds but referee Tony Harrington was unmoved.
Donaldson sent an overhead effort just wide but Blues went behind in the 66th minute when Dyer collected Lucas Akins’ clever back-heel and beat Stockdale.