City fans’ missiles like rocks, says Bruce
Steve Bruce angrily condemned his former club’s decision to provide cardboard clappers to supporters at yesterday’s derby after Birmingham fans used them as weapons to throw at Aston Villa players.
Play was held up more than once as they tried to take corners and free-kicks and police at one point had to form a line along the touchline to protect midfielder Glenn Whelan, who was pelted as he received treatment close to the edge of the field.
Although no players were injured, a number were hit, including Robert Snodgrass and Ahmed Elmohamady, while goalkeeper Sam Johnstone had to contend with a barrage for most of the second half, along with plastic bottles, with home supporters filling the stand behind him.
“Whoever made the ridiculous decision to have clappers here obviously doesn’t know the Birmingham fans,” said Bruce, the Villa manager.
“They don’t need a clapper – that’s the last thing they need. It just fuelled it. They have used them as weapons – rolled up and with an elastic band around them they became like rocks. In all seriousness, somebody could have been badly hurt.
“The first corner we got stopped the game. Two of my players were hit. Thankfully no one was hurt but they could have been. Whoever has made the decision, I don’t think they will do it again.”
Villa issued a statement clarifying that a facial injury to Whelan, who received a cut close to an eye, was not caused by a missile but an opponent’s elbow in a challenge. But a club spokesman said Elmohamady had handed a coin to a steward.
There is no confirmation Villa will report the matter to the Football Association, but there still could be consequences for the home club.
Steve Cotterill, the Birmingham manager, said: “I know they [the clappers] were being thrown about and it’s a decision I’m sure the club will look at in the future.”
The game left both sides where they had been before kick-off – Birmingham a place above the relegation zone, Villa in sixth – and was not short of passion but lacked a decisive moment of quality.
Birmingham, without a win over their rivals in a record 11 league meetings, wasted chances before and after the break to take the lead. Cheikh Ndoye directed a closerange header straight at Johnstone. Four minutes after the restart, Jota was clear after intercepting a Conor Hourihane pass but missed the target with a wild finish.
Villa sent on Mile Jedinak for more defensive solidity and Keinan Davis to add threat in attack. Davis and Jonathan Kodjia hit the bar and the latter had a header brilliantly saved by Tomasz Kuszczak.
Kodjia and City’s Isaac Vassell suffered possible long-term injuries, the former going over on an ankle that underwent surgery in the summer and Vassell with potentially serious damage to his knee.