Aston Villa will host bitter rivals Birmingham City on Sunday afternoon at St Andrew’s.
Craig Shakespeare has stated that Aston Villa produced their best performance of the season against Derby as they head into their clash against Birmingham City on Sunday.
The former Leicester City manager also pointed out that the Blues ‘know what they are about’ as he expects yet another ‘feisty’ Second City encounter.
Despite Villa coming into this game after thumping Derby 4-0 and Garry Monk’s side losing to Hull, form will definitely go out of the window when the referee blows his whistle.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live (08/03/2019), Shakespeare revealed that he grew supporting the Claret & Blues and he fully understands what this fixture is all about.
“I was born in Birmingham, I have been a spectator in these games and they can be feisty,” Shakespeare told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I grew up supporting Villa. I was at the game against Derby and I was at the Birmingham game, the week before when they played Blackburn. I know what sort of form both teams are in.
“Villa’s performance against Derby was probably the best I have seen this season. But Birmingham know what they are about. They have Che Adams, who is a good goalscorer, but they have a real passionate crowd and the crowd there will get behind the team.”
Both teams possess a lot of fire-power. Birmingham have striker Che Adams at their disposal, who has netted 21 goals this season. Equally, Villa’s Tammy Abraham has scored the same amount of goals.
If the reverse fixture is anything to go by then there will be entertainment and goals galore from both teams.
In November, Villa put four past their neighbours, with Jonathan Kodjia, Jack Grealish, Tammy Abraham and Alan Hutton all getting on the scoresheet.
All the players above, apart from the injured Hutton are expected to feature at St Andrew’s, with Kodjia more than likely starting from the bench.
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