Aston Villa 0-0 Birmingham: Daily Mirror match report
Published 23:00 31/10/10 By James Nursey
Gerard Houllier is anxious to finally get the best out of newboy Stephen Ireland after yesterday's fiery Second City derby ended in stalemate.
Villa skipper Nigel Reo-Coker was fortunate not to be sent off for kicking out at old team-mate Craig Gardner.
The pair were both booked by referee Howard Webb after clashing twice - sparking two ugly melees.
And Villa boss Houllier and opposite number Alex McLeish both suggested afterwards the pair may hold a grudge from their time together at Villa.
The flash-points were certainly the main talking point of a dire goalless draw which ended Villa's supremacy over their neighbours after six successive wins.
And a softly-spoken Houllier wore a pensive look as his worries at the club continue to mount.
Villa's England hopeful Gabriel Agbonlahor remains injured along with skipper Stiliyan Petrov while Marc Albrighton is banned for two more matches.
The trio were all badly missed as Villa struggled for creativity in Houllier's cautious 4-5-1 system.
And Martin O'Neill's successor confessed Villa will be in "real trouble" if they get any more injuries.
The dour affair also means Villa have now gone 344 minutes without a goal in the Premier League.
Yet Houllier benched arguably his most creative player in Ireland for the entire contest after saying he looked "lost" in his previous two games.
Ireland, 24, was Villa's only significant transfer of the summer when he joined in the deal which saw James Milner join Man City.
But Ireland has not scored and is struggling to impress Houllier, who arrived after the £8million-rated midfielder.
Houllier said: "He needs to work harder.
"He played against Chelsea and did well but he played against Sunderland and was not good enough to me, simple as that.
"Skill is one thing but you need to compete.
"It is a difficult period for him but we will support him."
Houllier even selected rookie defender Ciaran Clark ahead of Ireland in midfield.
It appeared a negative tactic at home to pick up Alexander Hleb in the City line-up.
But Houllier explained it was vital as his midfield was exhausted by beating Burnley on penalties after 120 minutes of their Carling Cup tie on Wednesday.
He added: "We lacked a bit of freshness and imagination."
Midland football fans moaned the derby was not live on television but with hindsight it was probably just as well.
Certainly the prospect of both these teams meeting again in a Carling Cup quarter-final later this month at St Andrews will not thrill neutrals on this evidence.
Tempers frayed early in the 12th minute when ex-Villa trainee Gardner brought down Reo-Coker and was booked.
Birmingham midfielder Keith Fahey, who also used to play for Villa, managed to fire in three different first half efforts - two of which tested keeper Brad Friedel.
Brum also had a serious penalty appeal before the break when Reo-Coker appear to handle the ball in the box.
It was a massive let-off for the home side as the incident was near referee Webb.
But Birmingham were lucky themselves when Nikola Zigic escaped a red-card for catching James Collins with an elbow before the break.
Villa had to wait until the 70th minute for their first corner which Collins headed harmlessly wide.
Gardner and Reo-Coker then clashed again when the Villa man went in the book after kicking out at his ex-team-mate.
The bust-up seemed to inspire Villa as Clark headed just wide in the closing minutes before Ashley Young hit the post in the 89th minute.
Houllier said: "We know we can play better football - whether it is possible in the derby I don't know."
