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Football 1st
DERBY DAY DELIGHT FOR PHILLIPS
Kevin Phillps Hit a wonder strike to bury the unfortunate Blues who will be wondering what they have to do to end there sorrowful run.
Phillips hit on 19 minutes with a strike just outside the box which Maik Taylor can count himself unlucky after getting a hand on the ball but could not stop the ball from flashing into the back of the net.
Villa narrowly edged the 1st half with strikes from Phillips and Luke Moore but it was the Blues who had the best opertunity of the 1st half with a fizzing shot wide of the goal when only a delicate touch was needed.
The Strike on 19 minutes by Phillips was his third derby goal winner in his career.
Villa survived a 25 minute onslaught in the second half but the tetchy Bouma and co held strong and soon Steve Bruce Made the changes David Dunn returned to the 1st team since his horrific injury last christmas.
Birmingham will have enjoyed the link up play he created with Jamaine Pennant and they looked a treat as soon as he graaced the field.
However it was not enough and Villa took there first derby win in seven attempts.
This must now kick start Villa's season but for Birmingham a season of struggle if either Pennent or Dunn become unavailable they proved in this game that they carry the wait of the team on there shoulders
Man of the Match Mellberg - Strong against Heskey and needed to be
RUMOUR MILL
Sir Bobby Robson has ruled himself out of the running to be the next manager of the Republic of Ireland. (The Independent)
Middlesbrough have joined Birmingham in the chase for Austria defender Paul Scharner. (Daily Mirror)
Coventry boss Micky Adams is close to signing his former Nottingham Forest left-back Alan Rogers. (Daily Mirror)
German Fredi Bobic, who left Hertha Berlin in the summer, will train with Hearts over the next three days in a bid to prove he is still a striker to fear. (Daily Record)
Lisbon Lion Tommy Gemmell fears for Gordon Strachan's relationship with Celtic - if the manager was not made aware of ex-boss Martin O'Neill's consultancy deal. (Daily Record)
West Brom have told defender Riccardo Scimeca he can leave The Hawthorns. (Daily Mirror)
Wigan boss Paul Jewell says that Henri Camara needs to show his team-mates a bit more respect after the striker threw up his arms and stormed down the tunnel following his substitution against Newcastle on Saturday. (The Sun)
Aston Villa boss David O'Leary faces a possible Football Association sanction after referee Graham Poll reported him for using offensive or insulting or abusive language after Sunday's 1-0 win over Birmingham. (Daily Telegraph)
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