Rudy settles local rumble
Sherwood revels in Villa derby win
When the breakthrough came, Villa Park erupted and Tim Sherwood looked to the sky. Villa’s manager was acutely aware of the importance of this victory.
Villa’s worst start to a League season since 1986-87 had raised the stakes, so Sherwood’s show of emotion was understandable.
Birmingham had proved stubborn opponents until the 62nd minute, when Villa crafted a goal reminiscent of many scored when Christian Benteke was the biggest show in town. That role now falls to Rudy Gestede, their £6million summer purchase from Blackburn.
Jack Grealish, on as a substitute, fed overlapping full back Jordan Amavi and his whipped cross was crying out to be headed home. Gestede arrived in front of Jonathan Grounds to do just that, finding the net in front of the holte end.
The Benin international rather likes facing Birmingham. Last year he scored a hat-trick against them.
A smoke bomb was let off in celebration and blue mist shrouded the field. It was gone by the time Birmingham created an opportunity that should have resulted in an equaliser. Demarai Gray slipped Jacques Maghoma clear but the winger’s finish was tame and too close to keeper Brad Guzan.
Second-city derbies played under floodlights usually carry an edge. Both fixtures in the 2002- 03 Premier League season took place on Monday nights and saw unsavoury scenes.
Villa goalkeeper Peter enckelman’s dazed stare while being goaded by Birmingham fans after conceding from Olof Mellberg’s throw-in is local folklore. So too Dion Dublin’s butt on Robbie Savage at Villa Park, which in part triggered fights in the stands.
evening games were avoided until this competition threw up a quarter-final clash in December 2010. nikola Zigic scored a late winner at St Andrew’s and thousands of home fans ran on to the pitch to taunt the away contingent.
Birmingham, under Alex McLeish, went on to lift the trophy but relegation followed, halting the rivalry. So, it was with great expectation that supporters greeted this game.
Increased policing was evident inside and outside the ground, and arrests were made before kick-off at the nearby Manor Tavern after unconfirmed reports of an attack by visiting fans using bricks.
Sherwood had predicted ‘blood and thunder’ and promised to field a strong team, although Grealish was missing from his line-up. The 20-year- old was a boyhood Villa fan would have been keener than anyone to play.
Instead, Sherwood picked defender Ciaran Clark as an unorthodox midfield anchor, his first club appearance since August 29.
For Birmingham, Gary Rowett largely stuck with the side who have started the season so well and once again selected academy graduate Gray on the wing.
Birmingham were not overawed, holding on to possession for long spells to provoke loud whistles from home supporters. Villa did not look like a side from a division higher than City. In the fifth minute Maghoma skipped past Joleon Lescott and Jordan Amavi but dragged his shot wide.
Soon after Scott Sinclair burst into the area but his attempt was blocked and Birmingham scrambled the ball off the toes of first Gestede then Ashley Westwood.
Gabby Agbonlahor is a veteran of these clashes and has scored four goals in his last six games against Birmingham. he made an impression of a different kind in the 22nd minute with a late challenge on Grounds to receive a yellow card.
not until the 39th minute did Villa properly test Tomasz Kuszczak, who held Sinclair’s shot. Villa fans booed their team off at half-time.
Sherwood reacted by making a double substitution at the break, bringing on Grealish for Lescott and Jordan Ayew for Agbonlahor to enhance Villa’s attack.
The tempo and atmosphere improved, and Grealish began dancing past defenders. In the 54th minute Jordan Veretout released Bacuna down the right and his cross was glanced wide by the unmarked Sinclair. Soon after Gestede settled the contest with his knockout blow.
ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Guzan 6; Bacuna 6, Richards 6, Lescott 5 (Grealish 46, 7), Amavi 6.5; Westwood 6, Clark 5, Veretout 6; Agbonlahor 5 (Ayew 46, 6), Gestede 6.5, Sinclair 5. Subs not used: Bunn, Richardson, Hutton, Sanchez, Gil. Scorer: Gestede 62. Booked: Agbonlahor, Clark, Westwood.
BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-2-3-1): Kuszczak; Caddis 6, Spector 6, Morrison 6, Grounds 6; Gleeson 6.5, Kieftenbeld 6; Gray 6.5, Davis 6 (Toral 66, 6), Maghoma 6 (Solomon-Otabor 81); Donaldson 6 (Brock-Madsen 81). Subs not used: Legzdins, Robinson, Shinnie, Lowry. Booked: Morrison.
Man of the match: Jack Grealish. Referee: Robert Madley.