Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, goes into tomorrow’s match with Aston Villa belatedly cognisant that the Second City derby means just as much to supporters as the Old Firm rivalry does in Glasgow.
Birmingham fans vented their frustrations after McLeish’s first experience of their biggest derby ended in a 5-1 thrashing at Villa Park 17 months ago. The former Rangers manager, up against Martin O’Neill, his erstwhile Celtic counterpart, admits he erred when the teams last met, but believes this is now his side, as against one he inherited. Villa completed the double two seasons ago on their way to finishing sixth, while Birmingham were relegated.
“We went a bit open last time,” McLeish said. “In retrospect that was a mistake and we should have been more cautious against a Villa t 阅读全文>>