Why Birmingham will be quietly confident following Villa clash and why I don't believe Harry Redknapp's Ashley Young denials

By James Nursey

Published 12:42 04/11/10

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The contrasting body language after Sunday's 0-0 draw between Aston Villa and Birmingham spoke volumes for the way the respective camps have greeted the result.

The game itself was a dour stalemate enlivened only by a couple of skirmishes between former Villa midfielder Craig Gardner and Nigel Reo-Coker.

But the draw and its implications could be very significant for the shape of future Second City derby clashes and indeed, the entire balance of power in the Midlands.

After six successive victories in the fixture, Villa could rightly brag to have the upper hand on their bitter rivals.

But on Sunday the Villa crowd, team and manager looked primarily scared of losing to Brum.

Afterwards manager Gerard Houllier, who opted to play 4-5-1 at home, spoke softly that Birmingham were a team who were "hard to beat".

While the only Villa player to stop and do interviews with the press was Barry Bannan.

Brum boss Alex McLeish was instead quite content and even cracked the odd joke afterwards.

In fact, it felt as though Villa had lost as six Birmingham players stopped to chat and happily give interviews.

But they all stressed the same point - they felt Birmingham could have won.

And that positive outlook will undoubtedly stand Brum in good stead when Villa visit in the Carling Cup quarter-final.

For it appears Birmingham's inferiority complex compared to their more illustrious rivals is finally being shed.

Brum undoubtedly have the advantage going into their Cup game at St Andrews in a month.

McLeish has finally found a settled side and I am expecting big things from Chilean winger Jean Beausejour when he finally establishes himself in the side after injury.

I rate Barry Ferguson as City's most important, experienced, articulate and intelligent performer and he told the press after the Blackpool win that Beausejour looks a real player.

How Villa must wish their only summer signing Stephen Ireland would come good and be a decent buy.

Ireland has bags of talent as everyone can see but there have always been question marks over his attitude and strength of character.

There is no doubt he is struggling badly at Villa right now and can have no complaints about being on the bench on Sunday.

Houllier has told the player publicly and privately to buck his ideas up and how he reacts to the recent criticism of him will be telling.

If he hides and gets in a strop, it will benefit no-one but if he knuckles down and uses it as inspiration to prove everyone wrong then Houllier's deliberate ploy will have worked.

I expect the latter and how Villa need something to click quickly after one win in five Premier League games and 344 minutes without a goal in the top-flight.

What is interesting to me is how much the side have clearly missed Gabby Agbonlahor.

The England hopeful was often regarded as a Martin O'Neill favourite who got preferential treatment.

He became a victim for the boo-boys at Villa but the team have badly missed his pace and direct goal threat during his injury.

While Marc Albrighton's place as a first team regular appears to have been cemented by Houllier's post-match comments on Sunday when he said the home side missed the suspended wideman.

He won't be banned next time Villa face Birmingham and with the clash being a night game under the lights it is sure to be more exciting that Sunday.

On the subject of predictions, I haven't forgotten I tipped a Villa victory on Sunday with Emile Heskey perhaps among the goals.

Well, we know that was rubbish and Heskey had a stinker! Oops!

But I did accurately predict at the start of last month that I was very dubious Ashley Young would sign a new contract at Villa Park despite noises to the contrary from club officials.

That has since of course been proved correct by Young breaking off talks on a new deal until the summer when he will conveniently only have 12 months left on his contract.

Fans are not stupid so I presume they won't take seriously Young's claims he merely wants to concentrate on his football and has never thought about leaving.

That's almost as laughable to me as Harry Redknapp publicly saying he is not interested in the player.

For that I refer to his previous comments on current Spurs' players Younes Kaboul and Peter Crouch before he signed the pair from Portsmouth.

On Kaboul, Redknapp said: "I heard he is going to Villa. If Villa are in for him he may have to go there."

While on Crouch, Redknapp said: "I have not spoken to Peter Storrie [the then executive chairman] at Pompey and there are other clubs involved."

I mentioned these as examples because contrary to Redknapp distancing himself from Young, I have it on very good authority he "loves" Young.

However Tottenham are very coy with their transfer dealings these days.

Remember when they signed Rafael van der Vaart from no-where on transfer deadline day recently to stun everybody.

Well, Spurs know they cannot compete financially with the other big boys for both fees and personal terms and certainly cannot afford to get into a bidding war with Man City.

Hence the White Hart Lane club have to quietly tip-toe around doing their business.

But I am convinced Young's decision to halt contract talks is very much related to Tottenham so it will be very interesting to see what happens in January.

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