Stand-in skipper Jitesh believes the absence of key England players will not affect his side's morale on Sunday
sports5 hours ago
The Wales defender pounced eight yards out to volley home a deflected shot in the 72nd minute to earn Villa a deserved draw that lifts the team out of the relegation zone.
Roger Johnson had put Birmingham ahead in the 49th but the hosts were on the back foot for most of a riveting match at St Andrew’s.
Villa’s fifth point from its last nine games leaves it fourth from bottom. Birmingham is a point and a place above its local rival.
Both sides created a host of clearcut chances in an open first half.
Villa hit the bar twice — through Norway striker John Carew and left back Ciaran Clark — while Gabriel Agbonlahor also came close with a curling effort.
At the other end, Alexander Hleb had a shot cleared off the line for Birmingham, which gave David Bentley a debut after the right winger’s loan move from Tottenham last week.
The free-flowing action continued in the second half, and Johnson gave Birmingham the lead when he volleyed in from 10 yards for his second goal of the season after Craig Gardner’s skewed free kick was helped on by David Murphy.
The centre back almost scored an own goal five minutes later when he deflected Clark’s cross just wide of Blues goalkeeper Ben Foster’s left-hand post.
Villa laid siege on the home side’s goal in the final 30 minutes and was rewarded by Collins’ close-range strike, which deflected off Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell and into the bottom corner.
Villa was denied in a late winner when Foster saved from Stewart Downing, Ridgewell cleared Richard Dunne’s header off the line and substitute Nathan Delfouneso crashed a 25-yard shot against the crossbar.
Stand-in skipper Jitesh believes the absence of key England players will not affect his side's morale on Sunday
sports5 hours ago
Netanyahu came under personal attack from Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for failing to rule out an Israeli government in Gaza after the war
world5 hours ago
The fund is designed to finance the production of artistic and creative works in film, music, performances, and video games
uae5 hours ago
Fico has been in hospital since Wednesday when a lone gunman shot him four times, including in the abdomen
world5 hours ago
The country was one of the donor states to freeze around $450 million in funds after Israel accused 12 UNRWA staff of participating in the Hamas-led attack
world6 hours ago
This inclusive community service is available daily on Al Hamriya Beach from 6.00am to sunset
uae7 hours ago
The floods on Friday also destroyed about 2,000 houses, and damaged thousands more homes and businesses
world7 hours ago
They waited nearly two decades before the club was able to break the trophy drought
football7 hours ago