Review of Aston Villa vs Birmingham City

I recently went to the Aston Villa vs Birmingham City game at Villa Park on 31st October, incidently on Halloween. Fired up for the game, as I took my seat in the Holte, anticipation grew, and Kick-Off edged closer to reality. This is the big Birmingham derby, of course this is going to be a cracker...I wish I could have thought the same sort of thoughts at the end of the game.

Villa, with out the raw pace of injured striker Gabby Agbonlahor, looked too one-dimensional. Starting with a 5-man midfield with Emile Heskey as lone striker was just asking too much of the big front-man. Time after time the long ball was hoofed up to the former England international, and more often than not the plan failed miserably. Heskey had the chance to put Villa into a somewhat underserved lead in the 35th minute when Stuart Downing's low cross found Heskey's feet but the shot was scuffed. Having took complete control in the first 15-20 minutes, Villa went backwards and it was Birminghams game from then, and they will all be angry for not getting more than just a 1 pointed 0-0 draw.

The second half continued wheree the first had left off, with Birmingham dominating proceding and having the better of the play. Thier passing was much more sleek and fluent, whereas Villa were scrappy in play, thats when they actually managed to get the ball off the Blues. Stand-in captain Nigel Reo-Coker was fiery in the second and should be thanking referee Howard Webb that he didn't get sent off. After a few rash challenges he then started pushing around Liam Ridgewell. The introduction of little man Barry Bannan injected more pace into the team and pushed Ashley Young upfront to partner the struggling Heskey. Bannan nearly broke the deadlock as his shot from just inside the box just just about pushed over the bar by England goalkeeper Ben Foster. Still though, Birmingham were having the better of the play and if it wasn't for the quality safe hands of American Brad Friedel, would have gone ahead when, in the 79th minute , Nikola Zigic's powerful header was palmed over the bar by the Villa No.1. John Carew was brought on in the 82nd minute but it was just too late for him to make an impact, and apart from a saved header, didn't have time to do much else.

Birmingham derbys are hyped up, and almost never fail to deliver, but this game was one to forget, more for the Villa fans. Birmingham fans will be impressed with thier teams performance, but will be dissapointed to only come away with a point, such was the Blues dominence over the home team throughout the 90 minutes.