Brum skipper doesn't regret gesture to Villa fans and he's not sorry

Birmingham skipper Stephen Carr admits he has become a cult hero among City fans for his infamous obscene gesture to Aston Villa supporters.

And the fiery ex-Republic of Ireland international has no regrets over the controversial incident on Brum’s previous visit to Villa Park.

Carr, 34, served a one-match ban last season after accepting a charge of improper conduct at a personal disciplinary hearing.

The right-back lost his cool after Birmingham went down 1-0 at Villa in April following a disputed late James Milner penalty.

But, as he prepares to return to Villa tomorrow in the Second City derby, Carr insisted: “You shouldn’t regret it, it’s not good to do that.

“You can’t regret it, it was a spur of the moment thing - that’s life.

“I did it at the time and it was all quite emotional.

“We’d put a lot of hard work into a game where we’d played really well and then for a bad decision to take the game away is very disappointing.”

Carr and City’s stars were infuriated last term as ref Martin Atkinson penalised Roger Johnson for a challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor with eight minutes remaining.

TV replays showed the defender got a touch on the ball and Johnson branded the referee “a disgrace”.

Johnson was fined £7,500 by the FA and also warned about his future conduct.

Birmingham were also fined £10,000 by the FA for failing to control their players.

But Carr has since had countless Birmingham fans congratulate him on his crude actions.

He admitted: “Yes, it was a bit embarrassing really with people coming up to me.

“I had to go to school with the kids and had people saying things!”

But Carr did not enjoy having his knuckles rapped over the incident by FA chiefs at a hearing in London which saw him suspended.

And the defender has vowed to clean up his act this weekend in Alex McLeish’s side’s latest clash with Villa tomorrow.

The ex-Spurs and Newcastle ace said: “I’ll be behaving myself this time.

“I’m not going through that again, sitting in front of five men talking to me like I’m a child.

“It was the first time in my whole career. It’ll be the last as well. I basically had to apologise.

“I didn’t want to but there wasn’t a lot I could do.

“I didn’t get fined which was all right but I did have to miss a match so I’ll be keeping my hands to myself.”

Brum face Villa in optimistic mood after beating Blackpool and Brentford in their last two games in the Premier League and Carling Cup.

The visitors will be pumped up and anxious for revenge against Villa after losing to them in their past six meetings.

Carr added: “I can’t wait.

“The atmosphere is brilliant and it’s great for the fans. I’m really looking forward to it.

“It was unfortunate there last season, we played well and didn’t get the result.

“If we go there and do what we did last time we should come away with a result.

“We have to go there, be solid and try to nick a win.”

And if Carr gets on the scoresheet, how will he celebrate? “I probably won’t do anything - except watch myself!”