Birmingham City have won their first top flight derby against Aston Villa in almost 16 years after a thrilling 3-0 victory at St Andrews. Republic of Ireland international Clinton Morrison opened the scoring for the home side on 31 minutes and the victory was assured in the second-half after a controversial own goal from Villa keeper Peter Enckelman and a wonderful strike from Geoff Horsfield.
Villa faced an intimidating atmosphere at St Andrews as the Birmingham fans gave them a welcome the players will want to forget. The Blues welcomed back Senegal international Aliou Cisse and right from the start both sides displayed passion, commitment and style as they both searched for the opening goal.
It was the Blues that succeeded in breaking the deadlock as Morrison enhaned his reputation further with his new fans. The Irish striker benefited when Jeff Kenna's deep cross bounced off Robbie Savage and he was there to hook the ball in the back of the net. That goal resulted in Birmingham supporters dancing on the pitch like they had won the FA Cup final but it was the start they wanted.
Villa found the woodword before half-time but during the break manager Graham Taylor decided to replace strikers Marcus Allback and Juan Pablo Angel with Dion Dublin and Darius Vassell. That change had an immediate impact as Villa's attacks looked more threatening. Vassell even had a goal ruled out for offside despite the ball coming to him from the head of a Birmingham player.
As Villa continued to push forward, it seemed only a matter of time before they'd secure an equaliser but a controversial error from the Villa keeper dashed their hopes. A throw-in from Mellberg appeared to touch off Enckelman's boot as he tried to control it and the ball rolled away from him across the goal line.
A jubilant Blues fan made his way onto the pitch to taunt the disbelieving, devastated keeper while the Villa players raced after referee David Elleray, claiming the ball was never touched by Enckelman, which would mean the goal would have to be disallowed. However, Elleray acknowledged that he believed the keeper did get a touch before the ball crossed the line and the goal stood.
Substitute Geoff Horsfield rounded off an agonising night for Villa and a truly memorable one for Birmingham with a cool finish after Alpay had failed to control a through ball.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
