This could so easily turn into a demonstration of fan baiting but it's not supposed to be. The simple truth of all things football in Birmingham is that Aston Villa are and always will be the top side.

Birmingham City are the Everton of Liverpool or the Manchester City of Manchester. There is nothing wrong with this, it's just the natural order of things and if history has shown us anything, we know it's not really going to change.

They're a battling side though and Martin O'Neill has warned us not to expect repeats of the last two outings, where we've scored ten goals and not conceded. He's warned us, but I don't think any of us are really expecting us to score another four on Sunday.

It would be nice and it's possible, but we'd all accept a one or two nil, but we shouldn't expect it to be a stroll in the park; it never really is for Liverpool or Manchester United.

This game is one we need to win to push on for Europe as much as it is a game they need to win to try and avoid relegation. Because of this, Alex McLeish will have them well and truly up for it, but I'm not so sure it will be enough.

While they are in the top flight, we all look for the fixture and make a mental note of it but it's not our biggest game of the season, while for them it probably is - more so this weekend as they could be in the relegation zone at kick off.

Our biggest game of the season isn't predetermined as easily. I think it could be Everton the following Sunday, if results go our way. However, the most important thing is our result this Sunday.

So I'm predicting a win for us on Sunday. Not just because we are the better team or we have the better players and better manager, but because I think the goal of finishing in Europe is, for us anyway, more of a driving factor.

We've also seen over recent seasons what the twelfth man can do and I've got a feeling it will probably feel like thirteen on Sunday lunchtime.

You might also think this next statement a strange one but I'd like to see them stay up, I like the banter and like I've said it's always a good match. Unfortunately I just can't see it happening and I see them going down. Saying that, I also see Alex McLeish getting them back up straight away, I think he's got the skills to win the Championship.

Comments (35)

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mikegrowl said:

I'm a Blues fan just like to say its refreshing to here a Villa fan who wants us to stay up. No doabt it will biased on here like any other fan based website (No different on the Blues Blogs) but I would like to say all this stuff about its "thier biggest game of the season" yes without a shadow of a doabt but the fact you claim that it's not yours is a bit silly and incredibily big headed because I'm pretty sure the likes of spurs & arsenal regard that there derby's as one of the biggest games probley not the biggest due to european commitments unlike Aston Villa or Birmingham City and if you dont win this your telling me you'll just shrug it off and say "oh well I dont care about the derby" I don't think so! Good Luck for the remainder of the season (except sunday ofcoarse) I'm not really bothered where you finish its my football club I care about not yours!

April 16, 2008

bluenose said:

i accept what you sayign to a point, but we have a better win ratio against you guys in the premier leauge, so i wouldnt begrudge us a win, though unlikely. to be fair, we have 80% of the time just plain wanted the win more and have been rewarded because of it, villa have never been an exceptional team, since Martin O'Neill came on board you have improved a lot and fair play, i do enjoy these ganmes and i think if we stay up next season we will be a harder team to play, but im not overly optimistic. My prediction is a close game and maybe 1-1

April 16, 2008

warwickvilla said:

we'll meet again don't know where don't know when but I'll know we'll meet again some sunny day I hope we are singing that at the end of the game on Sunday,you want them to stay up damian,god I don't I don't want them in our ground they all smell and I've got to walk round the ground because the police say there to dangerous to walk by ha ha ha

April 16, 2008

davida said:

Sorry, but they need it more than we do. We all know in our heart of hearts that all this talk of a run for Europe is pie-in-the-sky stuff. That fact alone will ensure we won't beat them. Yes, we have better players, more options, more pace, more movement an so on. But I think a draw for them will be a good result in the big scheme of things. They'll come for a draw with the hope of knicking one. Hope I'm wrong and we do 'em. Even a squeaky 1-0 would be delightful. But a draw is what it'll be I think.

April 16, 2008

Dizzy Mugs said:

It's a broad statement to say Aston Villa will always be a better side than Birmingham, because we have no idea what the future may bring for either side. But at the moment, Aston Villa are most definitely on top. We need this game for our European hunt, they need it for their safety from relegation. I think they will be more up for this than we will and may show a lot of passion in their play, but i think the quality of football will eventually shine through and Villa should be in the clear. Of course, Martin will have the players prepared, encouraged and motivated. But as we've been shown by 'Boro and Sunderland, that determination to survive in the league can be a little stronger than our drive for European qualification. 3-1 Villa.

April 16, 2008

Villa Fan 4 life said:

How can you justify saying it's Blues most important game of the season, but not ours? Although in the grand scheme of things Everton could be an important game, if Chelsea do us a favour this week, it's vital that we beat the Blues to give us a chance and close the gap. The truth is, in our quest for Europe, every game is important. But none more important than beating Blues on Sunday surely?

April 16, 2008

The Mighty Steve said:

@Dizzy Mugs: Not that broad a statement, we have been by and large, the bigger team for a hundred years and probably always will be. They will have their moments, as Everton and Man City will and have had before, but we will stay the bigger team. Seems like the extra year we had on them in 1874 made all the difference. Incidently does everyone else dislike Birmingham a little bit less since Bruce left, I think I hate Wigan more at the moment :-?

April 16, 2008 | url

fiffyfu said:

Im villa through and through, however i would like to see the blues stay up, next season with villa, small heath, WBA and possibly stoke and wolves, we'll have more derbys than we know what to do with, i love the derby atmosphere and the anticipation all week before. I dont get nervous when i watch footy apart from villa blues matches, thats how much it means to me and im sure many other fans, it may not be the most significant match in terms of the big picture but it is one of the most important games for me. About europe, if chelsky win on thur against everton and we beat the blues we'll be 2 points behind them and will be on a masive high, even if pompey finnish 5th and us 6th the uefa cup spot will be ours, as long as pompey win the FAcup. Europe is not a long shot and neither is 5th. Ive probably ranted a bit but those are my thoughts, UTV 2-1 on sunday and probably a scrappy match. come on baggies, potters and wolves dont miss out on the prem this year, lets get the middlands back in the headlines.

April 16, 2008

villafandan said:

you're not the only villa fan i've seen saying they'd like to see them stay up and i understand the reasons. the trouble is, i look at the teams who are likely to go down in their place and i feel like the premiership would be robbed by losing, say, bolton for the scum.

April 16, 2008

villa rob said:

much as i hate to say it its good having as many local teams in the prem as possible - less travelling for the team / easier for local fans to get to etc.. it is a must win game for villa Damian, 5th place is possible if we beat blues and everton lose to chelsea.

April 16, 2008

gazza said:

Nothing gets the arse twitching like a Villa-Blues derby. I definately want them to stay up.

April 16, 2008

Chrisodon said:

I've said it all season i don't want blues to be relegated and i want them to become an established premiership team and keep pushing up the table. I Want what Liverpool & everton have a big meaningful derby. My prediction is 3-1 to villa. Blues to score first with Ridgewell getting it, Then our usual second half fight back will happen and Carew, Barry (pen) & Harewood.

April 16, 2008

DickoVilla said:

This IS our biggest game of the season and this needs to be installed into the players. If we turn up with anything less than this in mind, then we will get beat, simply because they will want it more. I would love nothing more than to stuff Small Heath and and send them down,back to where they belong!

April 16, 2008

Barrie Price said:

I have been a Birmingham fan all my life and have long since lived in the shadow of Aston Villa, a fine club with a huge tradition and history. I have also seen enough derby matches to know that they frequently throw up surprises. Everything points to a Villa win. They have better players, pace and excellent movement but if their fans think for one moment that Blues will arrive and be rolled over then think again. Villa are good but not that good and the desire to stay in the Premier League could well be enough to provide something out of the games for the Blue side of our city. This is your biggest game of the season as it is for us whatever you say. To state otherwise is patronising, smug and self satisfied. Pride comes before a fall and I am not going to make any wild predictions as to the result. I will leave it to the players to provide us with a game that fans of both sides can enjoy and take some pride out of. Defiant predictions of comfortable wins from the parizan of either camp cloud the debate. Naturally I want my team to win but the world will not stop turning if we don't. There will be football next year and the the year after that. As for being the top side and always will be - well you would say that wouldn't you?

April 16, 2008 | url

Paul Bennett said:

Well, reading the article, and the comments from villa fans just reinforces (shall I explain the meaning of that word for villa fans ??)the receent intelligence survey which was published on the internet, and villa fans were bottom of the list............ blues fans were tenth (out of all premier league club fans). Sorry to have to say it, but you don't have any brains......I remember when villa were in division three, but their dumb fans still said that they were better than any other team, including blues. Just shows the lack of intelligence. There is only one team that represents Birmingham, and that is City, Aston Villa represent Aston, and nothing more.

April 16, 2008

mickey86 said:

id have to disagree with you in this post damian. aston villa reserves are the everton of liverpool and the manchester city of manchester.

April 16, 2008

pazzler said:

for the good of the midlands i want birmingham to stay up. an the likes of wba, coventry an forest wud help the profile. its about time the midlands challeged the north an the london monopoly

April 16, 2008

Northstandholteender said:

Have you seen the cuffs on Karen Brady? She wants to get them off I heard her say. But she is getting sentenced to a lifetime. With the big butch girls that live in Holloway..... Birmingham are you listening. To the song were singin. Were walking along. Singing our song. Shi**ng on the city as we go.

April 16, 2008

Jusminder Singh said:

C'mon villa, this match means soo much to me!!! i want 100% from all the players and please villa please win

April 16, 2008

satch said:

Well if I'm honest these matches are never the most fantastic displays, derby days always have been nity gritty, full of testosterone and always seem to go either way. Nothing better than going in to work the next day and gloat over another villa win! I fancy our chances even more now with the current blues new manager. I can only echo what others have said, must win situation if we want that 5th spot. It is so achievable with Evertons last few fixtures. On clubs going down, its sad to see both Coventry and Leicester fighting relegation in the championship and if Blues go down as well it truly will have been a bad season for midlands clubs. UTV!

April 16, 2008

villadaz said:

I hope that Villa win on Sun for our own destiny.....however, I love the banter before and after a Blues game. It would be wrong to wish them relegation. Regardless of the result Sun, they will stay up anyway.

April 16, 2008

andy5759 said:

Agreed with pazzler - the midlands under represented in Prem! And gazza too - bum twithching time!! Villa must win, but probably an untidy game.

April 16, 2008

Leroy said:

3-0 Villa

April 16, 2008

nan was a fan said:

Mr Paul Bennett, please avoid double use of the question mark, you are giving a false impression of your celebrated high IQ.

April 16, 2008

Jimmy Villain said:

I hate the, I hate the city, I hate the, I hate the blues, I hate the, I hate the city, except when the bastards lose… 3-0 Villa, I cannot stand the blues, nice of you fellas to be civil but this is football and those low lives need to go down.

April 17, 2008

Leroy said:

Paul Bennett - What a muppet. Why dont you at least talk some football? Oh thats right because youve got nothing to talk about. Ill say this about City, You always seem to bring out the worst in teams. Thats the only way you have a hope of getting points from a match. As for intellegence, well whos owwners were arrested last week?

April 17, 2008

bluenose said:

Interesting comment Leroy. So you presume that an arrested person lacks intellegence? I wonder if you understand the offside rule to? This is supposed to be a discussion of football, the stats show that villa were not the better team while we were up last time, in fact far from it, i think we have 75% or 80% win ratio over you that season, why you ask, cause we were better, we wanted it more and we ended above you for that second season. then we declined, and yes now you have a better squad and a much more stable position and string of results. I dont excpect blues to win, but its not going to be easy for you, if we can draw with chealsea without the derby passion, what do you think this game will be like? I predict 1-1, i hope we stay up, cause next season after giving McLeish a chance to reshape the team it will be a different story. If not see you the season after. Blues go down, blues go down, blues go down together, come back up, win the cup, kick f**k out of villa! but in all true, wouldnt you all miss this banter

April 17, 2008

Mick70 said:

7-0, with Karren Brady and Sullivan arrested at half time leaving Villa Park in tears.

April 17, 2008

kohoutek said:

Yeah, would like to see WBA, Wolves and Blues all in the top flight, good for the game, and would make the midlands less of a place of 'exile' compared to London and the north. Blues obviously need it more...Fighting a negative, like relegation, ought to induce more urgency/desperation than reaching up a level. If Villa don't get Europe, they're still in the Premiership. If Blues get relegated, well... It will be scrappy. I think the lads will find a way to win, now that our hopes for 5th are still very much alive. But it will be a fight. 2-1 the Villa. Oh, and as a matter of definition, I do think that the Everton game would ultimately be the biggest game of the season if we beat Blues. That's always determined by situation and position. It's a 6-pt game for Europe. For now, because of the stakes, and not the derby, Blues is the biggest game of the season. But that doesn't mean

April 17, 2008

Sasa said:

bluenose if you think your 3-2 and 1-0 defeats to Chelsea are draws then in your eyes blues will have a very good win ratio!! I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and take it you were referring to Arsenal. Anyway I want blues to go down, I'm sure you've seen enough Hollywood films to know that if you dont finish someone off when they're down they'll come back to get you. If Blues continue to stay up then the law of averages will say they will beat us again and we'll have to out up with their rubbish 3-0 t-shirts. We are better than blues but not light years ahead as some of us think!!

April 17, 2008

Oscars Arse said:

Imagine this time next season, Small Heath winning the championship all the hoo hah, actually getting their hands on the Championship trophy (the one we've won a few times when winning the league actually meant something instead of how much money you've got). Open top bus parade it's scarey. Let em stop up but us to win tomorrow.

April 19, 2008

Ed said:

I love these matches , The atmostphere is amazing , just hope villa can stay focused and kick blues asses. I reckon that Birmingham will start the game off good, but at half time it will be 0-0 considering Aston Villa's First Half perfromances haven't been great recently, but we will come out to win it either 2-0 or 3-0 i can Agbonlahor and Possible a wacky Goal in the game C'mon You Villa Boys!

April 19, 2008

Jimmy Villain said:

Midlands teams in the premiership is good on one level but derby games throw form out of the window, look at the London clubs. I can't stand the blues and would be happy of they joined Fulham and Derby in the drop… 3-0 Villa, bye bye blues

April 20, 2008

Woodinho said:

This is my prediction!!!

April 20, 2008

Kid said:

LOL 4-0 Blues going DOWN!

April 20, 2008

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