History of the Villa v Blues fixture
Blues face a short trip to Villa Park at lunchtime on Sunday, hoping to improve upon an average previous return from this local derby fixture. Of the 52 games played over in Aston, Blues have recorded 13 wins, and Villa have come away with 26 victories.
The most recent encounter between the Birmingham rivals was less than a year ago, in March 2003, as the Blues ran out cosy 0-2 winners in a volatile Premiership match that saw two Villa players sent-off .. View Match Report
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click hereRecent encounters between the teams: 2003/2004 Sun 19 Oct Birmingham City 0 - 0 Aston Villa PREM 2002/2003 Mon 03 Mar Aston Villa 0 - 2 Birmingham City PREM 2002/2003 Mon 16 Sep Birmingham City 3 - 0 Aston Villa PREM 1993/1994 Wed 06 Oct Aston Villa 1 - 0 Birmingham City LC 1993/1994 Tue 21 Sep Birmingham City 0 - 1 Aston Villa LC 1988/1989 Wed 12 Oct Aston Villa 5 - 0 Birmingham City LC 1988/1989 Tue 27 Sep Birmingham City 0 - 2 Aston Villa LC
Recent respective form guides
The Villa are showing reasonable home form, having won four and lost two from the last six played. A total of 10 goals have been scored by the Villa in those games, with 5 conceded.
Blues have an average recent record on the road, collecting 1 win and 3 draws from the last six played. Only 4 goals have been registered in this time, with 6 leaked at the wrong end.
Villa's 36 points from 25 games sees them lie inside the top half of the table, in 7th position. Blues are just a point behind Villa with a game in hand and they lie in 9th position ... view latest league table
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click hereCurrent form guides: P W D L F A P Aston Villa 6 4 0 2 13 8 12 Birmingham City 6 2 4 0 6 2 10
Blues Team News ...
Steve Bruce looks like he will be without Matty Upson Jamie Clapham and Stan Lazaridis but on brighter note midfielders Stephen Clemence and David Dunn could return to the squad having returned to training this week after spells out with calf and hamstring injuries respectively.
Singing The Blues Prediction ...
Villa's form has improved as the season as gone on and this will not be as easy as the game at Villa Park last year. However, after our poor showing in front of the TV camera's in our last two away games I am expecting Blues to show the nation a bit more of what they are capable of on this occasion. Villa 0 - Blues 2Sequence statistics: Aston Villa 13 games since last home draw.
Won their latest 4 matches.
Not drawn a match in their last 10 .Birmingham City Previous 3 away games have finished all-square.
Not won in previous 5 away matches.
8 games since last defeat.