Raging Bruce an unhappy clapper
BIRMINGHAM could face action from the FA after Aston Villa players were hit by clapperboards thrown from the stands in this stormy draw.
Four Villa players – Glenn Whelan Robert Snodgrass, Ahmed Elmohamady, and Sam Johnstone, who was also hit by two plastic bottles – were targeted by the cardboard objects that had been left on every home fan’s seat.
Villa manager Steve Bruce criticised his old club for handing out “weapons” and claimed they were like “rocks”.
“They used them as a weapon – in all seriousness, somebody could have been badly hurt,” said Bruce. “They were rolled up, with elastic bands around them and they became like a rock.
“Whoever made the ridiculous decision to have clappers at a game like this doesn’t know Birmingham fans – it only fuelled it.
“Two of the players got hit, so whoever made that targeted by several objects at the start of the second half, including two plastic bottles, and Elmohamady dropped the ball after being hit when he tried to take a throw-in.
Whelan was bombarded as he lay being treated in the 52nd minute, prompting a line of 20 police to patrol in front of the stand.
City manager Steve Cotterill said: “The clappers might have actually hindered us because when they came on the pitch, it slowed our momentum down. That’s a decision I’m sure the club will look at.”
On the pitch, a draw was a fair result. Jota missed Birmingham’s best chance when he blazed over at the start of the second half after Cheikh N’Doye’s header was tipped over by Johnstone on 39 minutes.
Jonathan Kodjia and sub Keinan Davis hit the bar for Villa, while Kodjia also saw a header superbly clawed away by Tomasz Kuszczak.
Both teams were hit by blows to key strikers as Blues lost Isaac Vassell and Kodjia limped off with a knock to the ankle on which he had surgery in the summer.
“It doesn’t look like a good one for Vassell,” said Cotterill. “He twisted his knee and he’ll have a scan today.”
Bruce said: “We don’t know how bad it is but Kodj is certainly a doubt for Preston on Wednesday.”
BIRMINGHAM (4-2-3-1): Booked: ASTON VILLA Booked: