Villa fury after Brum missiles
BIRMINGHAM could face action from the FA after Aston Villa players were struck by clapperboards.
Robert Snodgrass, Ahmed Elmohamady, Glenn Whelan and Sam Johnstone – who was also hit by two plastic bottles – were targeted by the cardboard missiles that had been left on every home fan’s seat.
Villa boss Steve Bruce slammed his old club for handing out what he described as weapons.
He said: “They used them as a weapon. In all seriousness, somebody could have been badly hurt by them.
“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 ridiculous decision... I don’t think they will do it again.”
A Villa spokesman confirmed two unnamed players were hit by coins, while Ahmed Elmohamady handed a coin to a steward in the first half. There were also reports of a linesman being struck.
Whelan was left with a cut under his eye but this was from a stray elbow, rather than a missile.
Snodgrass was first to be pelted as he tried to take a corner after 14 minutes.
Johnstone was targeted by several objects at the start of the second half, including two plastic bottles.
Elmohamady ended up dropping the ball after being hit when he tried to take a throw-in.
Whelan was bombarded as he lay being treated in front of the Kop in the 52nd minute, prompting a line of 20 police to patrol in front of the stand.
Brum chief Steve Cotterill said: “The clappers might have actually hindered us because when they came on the pitch, it slowed our momentum down.”
Jota missed Birmingham’s’ best chance when he blazed over after Cheikh Ndoye’s header was tipped over by Johnstone.
Jonathan Kodjia and sub Keinan Davis hit the bar for Villa and Kodjia also saw a far-post header superbly clawed away by Tomasz Kuszczak.
John Terry also glanced just wide as Villa pressed for a winner late on.