English Premier League Week 10 Preview: Aston Villa And Birmingham Face Off In Second City Derby

The Second City Derby kicks off for the 119 time on Sunday, with Birmingham City traveling 2.6 miles across the city to Villa Park. Aston Villa have the advantage, but not by much, as Aaron Campeau explains:

City tend to enter into the competition as underdogs, so it’s fairly remarkable how even things have been throughout the years; Villa have won more often, but perhaps not as often as you might think with a knowledge of the history of the clubs; the series stands at 50 to Villa, 37 to the Blues and 29 draws.

This year, the teams are separated by just a point. Aston Villa look to recapture their heady days in the European slots, while Birmingham are still trying to prove that they belong in the Premier League.

Projected Lineup, Birmingham City (4-4-2) Foster- Ridgewell , Johnson, Dann, Carr,-Fahey, Ferguson, Bowyer, Larsson-Zigic, Hleb

Projected Lineup, Aston Villa (4-3-3) Friedel-Warnock, Cuellar (this is speculation), Collins, L. Young-Reo-Coker, Sidwell-Downing, Ireland, A. Young-Heskey

Key Battle: Nikola Zigic’s 6’8” head against the right side of Aston Villa’s defense. That side’s looked shaky all season and any Villa fan will be forgiven for having a nervous breakdown if Zigic gets too close to goal. The home side, known for their brilliant defense last season, has rarely started their preferred defensive lineup, and when they have, it seems like one of the four are suffering from a knock, anyway.

Birmingham, for their part, will have to deal with an attacking lineup of Ashley Young, Emile Heskey and Stewart Downing, who are at least freely able to score in Carling Cup matches. For all of the mocking Heskey receives, he’s been outstanding thus far for Villa. If the good Heskey shows up, he’ll be able to hold up play and give the wingers plenty of room to terrorize the Birmingham defense. Even with the Blues’ deep-lying back four, Villa can still be dangerous, with Downing and Young both able to score from distance.

Battle Within The Battle: This match is all about getting the ball in the net. Although Aston Villa finally scored in their midweek Carling Cup tie with Burnley, they remain at 254 Premier League minutes without a goal scored. The Villa have scored a measly nine goals this season, with three of those coming in their first match, at home to West Ham. Birmingham, for their part, have scored ten goals in the league, and also lead on own goals, with the Blues scoring two this season and Villa scoring one. The two teams combined have scored six less than league leaders Chelsea. Well done, City of Birmingham.

Pick: You’d think from the lack of goals this season that this match will finish 0-0. Yet I remain ever pessimistic, believing that Birmingham will find its way under the Villa skin. 0-2.