Gardner dedicates first Blues goal to crocked Villa brother

Birmingham star Craig Gardner dedicated his first City goal to brother Gary - who plays for Aston Villa.

Midfielder Gardner, 23, quit Villa Park for his boyhood heroes in January in a £3million deal.

But his highly-rated teenage brother Gary, 17, has remained at Villa, where he injured his cruciate knee ligaments recently.

Gardner said: “I’ve always been a Blues fan so to score the equaliser against as team like Everton was brilliant.

“It was good to score for my brother who has had a few operations on his knee.

“It was nice to cheer him up as well.

“I tried to find him somewhere as I celebrated. I think I was pointing all over the stadium.  

“It was an unbelievable feeling as you saw from my celebration.”

Alex McLeish’s side are now just two points behind their more illustrious rivals Villa.

Gardner added: “Birmingham have got that never-say-die attitude and I spoke to a few of the lads before I came and they said it’s a brilliant place to be.

“There is a great atmosphere here and the gaffer is brilliant.

“I knew when I came here I would have to be patient and wait for my chance. Hopefully  I can stay in the team now.”