Birmingham Vs. Aston Villa: 0-0 At Halftime With Bright Starts Fading To Nothing

The return fixture of the Second City derby has been mercifully more entertaining than the leg at Villa Park in October, with both sides at least attempting an attack. Still, that's about the best that can be said about the match between Birmingham and Aston Villa, with neither side able to put away their many chances.

David Bentley, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, has been a bright spot for Birmingham City, streaking up the right wing to terrorize Villa youngster Ciaran Clark. But Clark has now settled down and learned to cope with Bentley, so one has to wonder if Alex McLeish will change his strategy at the break.

Gerard Houllier, meanwhile, must make some sort of change. While Aston Villa have some of the more talented wide players in the game, Houllier has moved Stewart Downing inside, with Gabriel Agbonlahor dropping deeper and toward the left. With big John Carew clearly meant to be a target man, we're left wondering what, exactly, he's a target for at this moment. In addition, having not played in at least two months, and been ineffectual before that, he is contributing little but missed opportunities. Take him off, move Agbonlahor up front, push Downing and Albrighton to the wings, put in Barry Bannan and this game would be Villa's to lose.