Alan Hutton scored a stunning goal in Aston Villa’s 4-2 Championship win against Birmingham City – but was the atmosphere better than Rangers vs Celtic?
Alan Hutton has played in both the Old Firm and Midland derbies – so the experienced full-back is well placed to compare the atmospheres in two of British football’s most vociferous fixtures.
Hutton etched his name into Aston Villa folklore on Sunday as he put the finishing touches on a thrilling 4-2 win against Second City rivals Birmingham City, scoring a stunning solo goal and making his ‘Scottish Cafu’ nickname rather less ironic along the way.
The 33-year-old, however, has also been on the blue side of the Glasgow divide, having represented Rangers against Celtic on a number of occasions north of the border in his younger days.
And, speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT (26 November, 12am), Hutton has drawn comparisons between the typically raucous supporters of both Rangers and Aston Villa.
“It’s very similar to be honest. The only way I can describe an Old Firm game is that you don’t hear. It’s just a buzz, like a noise and it’s very similar (at Aston Villa),” said the former Tottenham and Sunderland full-back.
“These fans are special, they really are. It reminded me of playing at Ibrox with that noise, it’s unbelievable and it only gets you going more.”
Hutton has evolved into something of a cult hero among the Aston Villa supporters since their relegation from the Premier League in 2016. He may not be the most technically gifted footballer but his commitment and consistency means he has been one of the first names on the team sheet in recent seasons.
The Birmingham Mail reported in June that Hutton had been lined up for a return to Rangers, only for the defender to sign a new contract and commit his immediate future to his current employers.
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