BRUCE’S UNHAPPY CLAPPERS
Villa anger as players are pelted by missiles given to fans by derby rivals
WHOEVER at Birmingham city made the call to hand out thousands of clappers to encourage an atmosphere in a derby that never needs much fuel to catch fire will be feeling uncomfortable now.
Instead of making a racket, fans made missiles, scrunching up the cardboard on their seats and repeatedly launching them at Aston villa players. It encouraged others to use more threatening instruments of intimidation, with plastic bottles and coins also launched from the stands.
Ahmed elmohamady was one of two players hit and is understood to have handed a coin to a steward. There was also a report of a linesman being struck and Birmingham face the prospect of an FA charge for failing to control fans. The governing body will study video footage.
The game itself was a story of attrition rather than quality, with one excellent chance missed apiece and one worrying injury each too.
Jonathan Kodjia, so instrumental to villa’s game, limped off with a damaged ankle, the same one he broke in April to spend five months out. Birmingham striker Isaac vassell trudged away in the first half with a knee problem that manager Steve cotterill described as ‘not good’. A lengthy spell on the sidelines for the 24-year-old who has so impressed since his summer move from Luton would seriously hamper Birmingham’s bid to climb free of relegation danger.
This Second city stalemate keeps villa sixth and nudges Birmingham away from the drop zone but the main talking point was what came from the stands.
villa players certainly had ample time to discuss the matter, being kept in at St Andrew’s for more than 90 minutes
after the final whistle due to Birmingham fans lurking by the team bus.
Villa manager Steve Bruce did not hold back his opinion. ‘Whoever made the ridiculous decision to have clappers here, they obviously don’t know Birmingham fans,’ he said. ‘They used them as a weapon. Somebody could have been badly hurt by them.
‘They were rolled up, with elastic bands around them and became like a rock. Two of the players got hit so I don’t think they’ll make that decision again.’
Robert Snodgrass was the first target at an early corner, with Elmohamady under fire when down injured by the touchline. Glenn Whelan was also pelted when requiring treatment, although the cut under his eye at the end was the result of an errant elbow from a Birmingham player.
Cotterill accepted the call to use clappers will be re-evaluated. ‘I know they were being thrown about but they also hindered us because when they came on the pitch, it slowed our momentum down,’ he said. ‘I’m sure the club will look at it.’
As for the football, Jota missed a glorious chance to crown a fine display for Birmingham when one-on-one with Sam Johnstone. Seizing on a lax pass by Conor Hourihane, he raced clear but skied his finish. Sam Gallagher then missed a couple of openings from close range but Villa finished stronger. Kodjia drew a fine save from Tomasz Kuszczak with a powerful header and then Keinan Davis smacked the bar when he ought to have scored with a free shot in the area.
Kodjia also clipped the bar after wriggling free in the box but as he shot he twisted his ankle and gave his manager Bruce more cause for concern.