Fans’ Preview: The Second City Derby

Ahead of the Second City derby this weekend, our resident Aston Villa fan, Michael Plant and new JOTB recruit and Birmingham City supporter Tom Owen cast their views on the Villa/Blues rivalry and preview Sunday’s game.

The rivalry…

Michael – It’s huge, absolutely massive. It’s by far and away the biggest game of the season, and it always will be. It’s all I’ve thought about during the week. We cannot afford to lose – I won’t be able to talk to the blue half of my family for weeks! Drawing at St Andrews, as we have in recent seasons, isn’t the end of the world, but failing to beat that lot at Villa Park certainly would be.

Tom – The pure hatred between both sets of fans is unrivalled and those emotions will be portrayed in the stands and on the pitch this Sunday. In the past there was a clear north-south divide between Villa and Blues fans, but that line has been blurred in recent times and the derby now splits families across the city. For me, Birmingham City represent the working-class fan, while Villa are like that whining, stuck-up cousin who gets straight A’s at school. Yes, they might have won the odd trophy 40 years ago, but the past is the past.

Is it underrated...

Michael – For me it has been paid lip service by the media over the years because neither club has tasted much recent success. There were a few seasons it wasn’t even shown on TV! Birmingham is one of the biggest cities in England, could you imagine the Manchester or Liverpool derby not being shown live on Sky?

Tom – Definitely! The game hasn’t receive the same attention because recently it’s been a Championship fixture. In a way, I like this as most Premier League derbies don’t seem as genuine and passionate because they’ve been a little diluted by the media coverage. Yes, the two teams aren’t amazing and the games are not always as entertaining, but that shouldn’t take away from the magnitude of this rivalry.

Favourite derby memory…

Michael – Probably Gary Cahill’s over-head kick. I remember at the time just being gob-smacked at what I had witnessed, and in the 13 years since I don’t think he’s ever produced anything like it. The first Premier League victory (and first in 12 years) was also special. As a child, after three seasons of pain that was incredibly sweet. I obviously have to give an obligatory mention to the 5-1 during the Martin O’Neill’s glory days, and last season’s 2-0 win that moved us up to second.

Tom – Victories in this fixture for Blues have been few and far between, with the last coming in the League Cup quarter-final in 2010. Although Nikola Zigic’s winning goal that night was a brilliant moment, my best derby memory was David Davis’ equaliser in 2016. We had dominated the game, but only managed to draw level with around 20 minutes left. The pure relief and euphoria I felt when Davis scored was indescribable!

One Blues/Villa player who really wound you up…

Michael – Robbie Savage, no doubt about. He was just always so smarmy and cocky in the first few years after Blues gained promotion. I’ve always wanted to know what he said to get Dion Dublin so riled up all those years ago. Special mention has to go to Craig Gardner and David Dunn as well, the latter of which I once bumped into in a bar and impersonated his infamous Rabona kick. He wasn’t too impressed.

Tom – Gabby Agbonlahor was the reason for many of my derby nightmares as a child, but now I have a new arch nemesis, Jack Grealish. He is criminally overrated, has stupid hair and Villa fans obsess over him just because he’s from Birmingham. I’m even getting angry writing about it!

Recent derbies…

Michael – Obviously we’ve enjoyed the lion’s share of the them in the last couple of years. After a few seasons away from the derby this is fourth fourth campaign in a row we’ve played each other. Villa have won three and drawn two of those games, have won six of the last seven meetings at Villa Park and haven’t lost to Blues in the league since 2005. Honestly, I’m not trying to rub it in. My worry is that they’re owed a result against us. I actually thought Birmingham were quite unlucky in the derby last year.

Tom – Frustratingly, we haven’t won the derby since 2010 and Blues fans are waiting impatiently for that first victory in nearly a decade. We have come so close in recent seasons. Big misses from Jacques Maghoma, Jota and Sam Gallagher have prevented us taking three points, and to be honest, Villa have got a bit lucky. Thankfully Agbonlahor will be in the stands on Sunday anyway.

Form…

Michael – A few weeks ago I was a bit nervous about this fixture. Them lot had gone 11 unbeaten and we’d won just two in 13! Funny how football goes but, and Villa head into the derby on the back of a two-game winning streak while Blues haven’t won in their last two. Our previous game – a 3-0 victory at Pride Park – was probably one the best results we’ve had since being relegated to the Championship.

Tom – Blues head into the derby sitting 12th in the league after an impressive start to the season. I feel like I’m about to have a nosebleed we’re that high! We were on an unbelievable run until Derby beat us 3-1 a few weeks ago, and I have to admit it’s a bit worrying that we’ve had a wobble just before the biggest game of the season. However, often form goes out the window in a derby. It’s about who performs better on the day.

Their biggest strength…

Michael – This is probably the best Blues team since the Gary Rowett days – before Agent Zola did his best to mess things up anyway. Garry Monk has got them organised at the back and they’re also pretty handy in front of goal. My worry is that this Birmingham side can pull a big performance out of the bag. They won at the Potteries and Elland Road and have played all of the current top five, losing just once.

Tom – You can’t deny that Villa have some great quality in their ranks – you’d expect that after spending that much money. On paper, their squad is miles better than ours. James Chester, Tammy Abraham, Yannick Bolasie, Jonathan Kodjia and a few others would be good additions to most Premier League sides. Being a local boy, I fear Grealish will be fired up for this one, and on his day he can be really effective.

Where will you watch it…

Michael – At Villa Park, with around 42,000 nervous spectators. I always go to the home derbies, but don’t get tickets for the game at St Andrew’s. My cousin offered me a ticket in the home section last year and I just couldn’t do it. It’s just a massive day – I’ve even turned down work to be there! If we don’t win I might have to walk back but. My uncle (who is a big Bluenose) normally collects me after the matches at Villa Park. It could be a very quiet journey back if Birmingham win.

Tom – Villa tickets are like gold dust and we are given a minuscule allocation, so I’ll be taking up my usual spot in a pub in Manchester. The interesting thing about not watching a game in Birmingham is that you can have some friendly banter with opposition fans without trouble starting. It’s great when you win, but not so good when you lose. Hopefully it will be the latter on Saturday.

Prediction…

Michael – This is probably the most nervous I’ve been for the derby in years. Unlike the last few season I think they actually have a chance of getting something from the game. I think Blues will at least score – something they haven’t managed in the last five visits to Villa Park. I’ll say 2-1, but I think it will be close. Up the Villa!

Tom – I am never usually confident heading into the derby, but for some reason my heart is telling me that Blues will win 2-1, with Lukas Jutkiewicz scoring both. We are overdue a win at Villa Park and I feel like our bad run will finally end on Sunday. Keep Right On!