the result
Aston Villa 1 Birmingham City 0: The match in a nutshell - Gregg Evans reports...
It was a game that promised so much.
Villa vs Blues - the fiercest of rivals against each other under the floodlights for the first time in five years.
The Premier League vs the Championship. Tim Sherwood vs Gary Rowett.
A place in the Capital One Cup fourth round for the winner but more importantly the local bragging rights for the foreseeable future.In the end both sides were separated by one perfect cross and an even better header.
Rudy Gestede was the match-winner as he etched his name into claret and blue folklore with the deciding strike.
But it was Jack Grealish and Jordan Ayew who changed this game as half-time substitutions.
Blues were the better side in the first half and had chances to go ahead.Tim Sherwood saw Joleon Lescott struggling against Clayton Donaldson and realised that Ciaran Clark was better suited in defence.
On came Grealish and Ayew and that sparked a turnaround that left Villa as the deserved winners in the end.
OUR VERDICT
Brian Dick gives his verdict on the game...
How unfitting that such local a battle should be settled by two Frenchman, a cross from one to another with a distinctly Beninese flavour. And how irksome for Gary Rowett and his brave Birmingham City team that the man who inflicted defeat - Rudy Gestede, was one they knew all about.
The former Blackburn striker once roasted them for a hat-trick in a previous life. A third of that total made him the toast of Villa Park.
Yet numerically overwhelmed off the pitch, with the Holte End howling their affection for their heroes, the 2,800 Blues fans and 18 Blues players strode bold as brass into the lion's den and emerged with huge credit.
That there were gaps along the top tier of the Doug Ellis Stand would serve only to support their belief that they should have been allowed more tickets for their first visit to Villa Park in nearly five years.
They’d certainly have sold them. Gabby Agbonlahor, the Villan Blues fans love to bait more than any other, was at the centre of the early terrace exchanges, especially when he went sliding in on Tomasz Kuszczak after ten minutes.
The North Stand loved it, the Pole didn’t.
That said, as one of the few Brummies on the pitch it was clear the occasion meant a lot to him. Too much when he upended Jonathan Grounds and became the first player booked. For someone so quick he arrived strangely late.
The Blues fans loved it when he saw yellow and loved it even more when he hooked a low cross which flew straight across the face of goal.
When he went down for treatment it was just another excuse to show their admiration. To be fair to Agbonlahor he showed more first half appetite than many of his team-mates.
It was a shame for him he only lasted until the break. Of the other local lads, Joleon Lescott looked arthritic at times, notably when Clayton Donaldson took 10 yards out of him and won a corner.
And also when he tried to carry the ball out of defence and ran straight into Jacques Maghoma.
To be fair he did well to recover and win the ball back but it was no wonder he was withdrawn at half time.
As for Blues’ Second City contingent Demarai Gray spent as much time in the middle of the park as he did manning the left wing.
His desire to make an impact in his first Birmingham derby was obvious. As was his tendency to waste decent opportunities, other than one sumptuous pass which put Maghoma in.
Where the 19-year-old really could have brought his influence to bear was at set-pieces, for which he assumed responsibility in David Cotterill’s absence. Unfortunately wanting and doing are not the same thing and his free-kick was a virtual pass back.
His second picked out Brad Guzan as though he was aiming for the American. Perhaps the most effective West Midlander, and he grew up in West Brom country rather than Small Heath or Aston, was David Davis.
At least until Jack Grealish arrived to the delight of 80 per cent inside Villa Park. The workhorse midfielder hasn’t had too much work lately and he took to it like a starving man assails dinner, running channels and blustering around midfield.
It took him all of 90 seconds to barrel over his first Claret and Blue shirt. He looked as though he wanted to put Jordan Ayew there too when the Ghanaian pushed him in the chest.
Before the match Tim Sherwood admitted it was up to Villa to dictate and after the initial bluster they couldn’t continue it. It was no surprise the home supporters’ enmity for their visitors started to be directed towards their own team.
As a result while Blues left the field at the break to warm cascade of applause from their supporters, Villa’s fans were less pleased. The precious link between a team and its’ followers was restored just after the hour, though.
Sherwood’s half time changes impacted not just his team but the whole mood. Two corners quickly followed the introduction of Ayew and Grealish and the Holte End were buoyant once more.
Just imagine ow this place would go up if they actually scored. And you know what? It did.
For probably the first time all night Jordan Amavi showed some of the attacking threat for which he is regarded so highly. His left wing cross could not have been placed better for Gestede to head past Kuszczak.
Villa Park exploded. Love for the Benin striker rolled down the Holte End, while the North Stand addressed their emotion at the away supporters. The obligatory flare found its way on to the playing surface but control was maintained.
As for Blues’ hope of a goal, their best opportunities went to Maghoma, the ever-willing winger who unfortunately lacked the necessary composure to convert either.
Villa marched on to the fourth round but for Blues there was immense credit and pride in knowing they had made their wealthy neighbours strain every sinew to keep right on.
MEN OF THE MATCH
Jack Grealish
The introduction of the Solihull born winger and Ghana attacker Jordan Ayew changed the game. Grealish introduced flair and urgency into the Villa attack and ultimately he changed the game. This kid is the real deal and he proved his potential once again.
Michael Morrison
A totally different man of the match for Blues but an equally deserving one.
Morrison summed up the Gary Rowett grit, determination and work ethic and he marshalled a very effective Blues defence.
Unlucky to be on the losing side.
THE FANS REACT
Mark James Withey: Grealish and Ayew were game changers, Gabby is just Gabby. Gestede was calm on the ball and played brilliant. Veretout dominated the midfield all game and Richards won every ball that came to him in the air. All in all brilliant game - UTV!
Colin Carberry: No complaints. A team costing £750,000 held their own against a team that cost £50 Million. It took a very good goal to win the game. Villa looked like nailed-on relegation candidates for much of the game.
Richard Mortimer: Starting 11 was wrong. Corrected it at half time and ran out worthy winners. Very pleased with Ayew's display. Gabby Agbonlahor needs consigning to the history books.
Joe Jones: I think we can be proud. A team of players built round a small budget, doing brilliantly in the physical drain of the championship and there was no difference in quality over the so called premier league team. Keep right on.
Carl Carloski Bennett: Tim must now see what his best team is after that lively but solid 2nd half performance. So many individual positives to take into the next game. COYL!
BOSS TALK
This is what the managers had to say to our reporters straight after the derby had finished.
Gary Rowett;
"Huge positives, you are coming up against a Premier League side, we were the better side in the first half.
"We passed the ball well and had a couple of good opportunities.
"A moment of quality undoes us, Grealish changed the game, it was a great ball in from the left, the only bit of real quality in the game and Gestede comes in and does what he does best."
And this is what Tim Sherwood had to say;
"We were on a hiding to nothing.
“All we could do was come here and fail.
“We didn't. We showed a lot of bottle.“The boys stuck to it.
“It’s a good confidence booster.“It won’t help our points tally in the Premier League but it’s about wins.
“I understand the fans are only interested in wins.
“They’re not picking apart the game like I do every week. It’s a win in a local derby so I’m delighted.
“Hopefully it can be a platform for us to move on."
PUNDIT'S POINT OF VIEW
Aston Villa secured the bragging rights in the second-city derby as they progressed to the Capital One Cup fourth round with a 1-0 victory over Birmingham City.
Rudy Gestede's second-half header was the difference between the two sides as manager Tim Sherwood's half-time introduction of Jack Grealish and Jordan Ayew paid dividends.
Grealish played Jordan Amavi in down the left to cross for Gestede, who powered home an unstoppable header to settle a cagey affair at Villa Park.
And his second-half cameo left several pundits purring, not least Dwight Yorke, who believes his and Ayew's arrival were pivotal in Villa sealing the win.
"The first half was unacceptable and you realised Tim had to make changes for the second half," he told Sky Sports.
"They [the two subs] changed the whole complexion of the game, they took the onus, the ball and the game to the opposition.
"It's amazing how much it changed things.
"The kid is very aware, takes up very clever positions and he uses the ball very well.
"Every time I have seen this kid he has impressed me, he has quality in abundance, he shields it well, commits defenders and picks his passes well.
"He's a clever footballer, Ayew was brilliant but he [Grealish] can be the real deal.
"The introduction of those two players had a massive influence on them winning the game, they showed the quality.
"The combination of the two seemed to add some spark to Villa."
Robbie Savage's verdict
The former Blues midfielder felt Sherwood was also deserving of credit for being reactive in making a change at the break after a turgid first-half showing from his side.
"Tim Sherwood has been criticised for his substitutions in the past but here he has got them on early and they've shown real positivity," he said on BBC Radio Five Live.
"He [Grealish] is brave and wants the ball, he's not afraid to make a mistake.
"Ayew has been great down the right, so has Grealish.
"Well done Tim Sherwood, those two substitutions won the game for Aston Villa."
And the rest...
Alex McLeish (Sky Sports): "[Ciaran] Clark was in front of the back four in the first half, [Ashley] Westwood and [Jordan] Veretout went in front of the back four after so that helped [change the game].
"But it was the movement of Grealish, [Scott] Sinclair and Gestede up front.
"There were passes in between the lines, Grealish brought a lot of fluency to the team.
"It was the one time they really stretched Birmingham, with Gestede coming in at the back post.
"Villa needed to win this game and they have done it, Tim will be delighted tonight.
Martin O'Connor (BBC West Midlands): "First half Blues played well without a cutting edge. Second half they couldn't deal with the inclusion of Grealish."
