Aston Villa will take on bitter rivals Birmingham City on Sunday afternoon.
Former Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett has claimed that Aston Villa always ‘fancy’ themselves as the better footballing team leading up to Second City derbies.
Dean Smith’s side will make the short trip to St Andrew’s on Sunday afternoon in what is expected to be a hotly-contested Championship encounter.
Blues go into the match having suffered a defeat at Hull City last time out, while Villa thumped Frank Lampard’s Derby County 4-0 on home soil.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live (08/03/2019), Rowett praised the passion in these games as he expects his former side to be on the ‘front foot’ in the match.
“When you turn up at those games, the atmosphere, the passion for football in the city, they really are incredible games to be a part of.,” Rowett told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“When you are in a city like Birmingham, it’s a working-class city, two very different sides to the city, which always makes it intriguing
“With Birmingham, it always feels like it has a little bit more of an aggressive edge to it and Villa they kind of fancy themselves as the better footballing team. It adds to the atmosphere, it adds to the occasion.
“They [Birmingham] will look to get on the front foot, they know their physicality it part of what they are good at this season. And Villa coming off the back of a fantastic win against Derby.”
During the reverse fixture in November, Villa thumped their rivals 4-2, with right-back Alan Hutton netting a memorable solo goal in the second half.
On that day, both teams produced an attacking display and much of the same will be expected when they take to the field early on Sunday afternoon.
The home team will have one of the in-form strikers in the division, Che Adams at their disposal, while Villa will have Tammy Abraham – both players are currently on 21 goals for the season.
Regardless of what will happen in the match, the atmosphere in the stadium will be expected to be thunderous and electric throughout.
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