Blues face their arch-rivals at the end of the month, but Rowett has stressed that his side are focused on facing Burton Albion.
Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett has insisted that his players are not distracted by the mouthwatering prospect of hosting arch-rivals Aston Villa next weekend, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail.
Saturday 30 October sees the first league meeting between the bitter second city rivals in nearly six years, in the most eagerly-anticipated game in each club’s calendar.
The clash will have an added spice as a result of former Blues’ manager Steve Bruce’s recent appointment as Villa boss, and fans of both clubs undoubtedly will have one eye on the fixture already.
However, Rowett has insisted that the same cannot be said for his players, who he stressed are focused purely on the game against his old side Burton Albion this weekend.
Rowett told the Birmingham Mail: “Listen, we’re looking forward to the prospect of it but we’d never let that get in the way of our preparation of any other game. I couldn’t answer you whether the players have spoken about it, but as far as I’m concerned it’s not affected anything we’re doing.
“I’d be disappointed if players had half an eye on that game because it’s three points. I know to the fans it feels like 20 points for one game but it’s three points and we have to view every opportunity to gain points as exactly the same merits as any other game.
“Maybe the players have thought about it. But I certainly think being in front of the cameras will help because I don’t think there are many players that are not going to want to try and look good and perform to the national viewing public.”
Blues fans have been basking in the vastly differing fortunes experienced by the Birmingham rivals so far this season.
Their side are fifth in the Championship table with six wins and only two defeats from their first 13 games, whilst Villa, although only losing three times, have won only twice.
However, the Villans are unbeaten in their first two games under Bruce and ended a run of 14 months without an away win with victory at Reading on Tuesday night ahead of the short trip to St. Andrew’s in their next match on the road.
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