Birmingham City – Aston Villa

Hello all and welcome to what should be a heated Midlands derby between Birmingham v Aston Villa from St Andrew's in the Carling Cup.

Team news is in and looks something like this...

<b>Birmingham:</b> Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Redmond, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Fahey, Jerome, Zigic. <p>Subs: Taylor, Gardner, Derbyshire, Michel, Beausejour, Jiranek, Murphy.

<b>Aston Villa:</b> Friedel, Luke Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Ashley Young, Clark, Hogg, Bannan, Downing, Agbonlahor. <p>Subs: Guzan, Pires, Ireland, Carew, Delfouneso, Cuellar, Lichaj.

Sounds like a fantastic atmosphere at St Andrew's but here's hoping that these two play out a little more exciting game than the 0-0 snoozefest at Villa Park earlier this season.

There's also Europa League football on tonight and you can join Villa fan Tom McGowan for all the updates <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=847827&sec=uefaeuropaleague&cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>. I'm guessing he is going to be having at least one eye on proceedings here at St Andrew's!

So a few youthful faces, with Jonathan Hogg, Ciaran Clark and Barry Bannan all lining up across the midfield. Big happy birthday to Bannan - who is 21 today.

It couldn't be more different than Birmingham's midfield, with 32-year-old Barry Ferguson and 33-year-old Lee Bowyer providing experienced heads for the Blues.

We're close to kick-off now and you have to think that either of these sides would love a chance to win some silverware this season.

And we're off...

Friedel looking long early on, though there's not much height up there with Agbonlahor, Young and Downing forming the front trident.

Villa corner swung in by Downing, the ball breaks to Hogg but he's blazed it over, and possibly out of the stadium!

<i>Stats: This is the 120th competitive meeting of these sides. Birmingham have won 37 and Aston Villa 52, with 30 draws. </i>

Jerome advances down the left, then cuts inside and fires straight at Friedel.

Downing down Villa's left this time, but his cross is cleared up by Johnson.

Friedel makes a bit of a hash of it as his defenders allow the ball to bounce but he recovers to prevent JErome from taking advantage.

Lovely turn of pace and drop of the shoulder from Agbonlahor to make some space down the left, but his cross is met by nobody - mainly because he is the lone striker and should have probably been the one in the box!

Villa attacking down the left again, they must see veteran right-back Stephen Carr as a potential weak point. Poor cross from Downing though.

Nice turn again from Agbonlahor, inside the area this time, but his pull back is hoofed clear.

Young shoots from distance and his effort is deflected out for a corner.

Collins with a powerful header but his goalbound effort was cleared away by Dann.

Jerome with a great lay-off and Larsson can accelerate down the right. Carr crosses but Dunne head away.

Agbonlahor again favouring the left flank but AGAIN failing to produce a decent ball.

Very poor crossing from Villa so far.

PENALTY to Birmingham!

Dunne brought down Bowyer and Birmingham have a chance to take the lead.

Larsson to step up...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> LArsson slots it home.

<b>Birmingham 1-1 Villa.</b> Calmly dispatched into the bottom right corner, sending Friedel the wrong way.

Villa come back with Ashley Young at pace down the right but his deflected cross finds its way into Foster's grateful grasp.

Birmingham have proved pretty adept at holding onto 1-0 leads in the past. And if they held off Chelsea, surely they can do the same with Villa?

It was really poor defending that led to the penalty, Collins let the ball bounce for the second time and Jerome pickpocketed him before feeding Bowyer who was then clearly upended by Dunne.

<i>Stats: Villa's record streak of six straight wins in this fixture was ended by a goalless draw in the Premier League on October 31. </i>

Good interplay between Young and Warnock and Villa now have a corner after some cheap defending from former defender Ridgewell.

Young delivers and Carr's diving header forces another corner.

Young's cross deflected out by Larsson, it's another corner.

This will be their fifth already!

It comes out to Downing who crosses but Birmingham steadfastly resisting at the moment.

An intense period of pressure was resolutely dealt with by Alex McLeish's defence.

Ashley Young with another spooned cross. £20 million of crossing between Downing and Young has been poor.

Good period of possession from Villa but they just can't manufacture an openening.

Bannan swings in a better looking cross but Agbonlahor's header creeps wide.

<i>Stats: Birmingham have not scored in their last three meetings with Villa, and have not beaten their rivals since a 2-0 home triumph in the top flight in March 2005. </i>

Fantastic challenge from Young, the ball fell to Zigic unmarked in the penalty area but the right-back was alert and came in to pick the ball off the Serbian's foot before he could shoot.

Young tries to provide a creative spark in midfield but he is quickly closed down by Bowyer and Ferguson.

Bowyer wins a free-kick after drawing a challenge from Luke Young.

Birmingham camped in Villa's half at the moment and a great run from Ridgewell has earned Blues a corner.

Zigic and Jerome loitering with intent.

No! Goal no given.

Zigic shot and the ball looked to be over the line, after Friedel failed to hold onto it, but Scott Dann was in an offside position.

Birmingham's protestations met with disinterest from referee Chris Foy, though the Blues have another free-kick.

Straight towards Friedel.

<a href="" target="_blank"></a> Agbonlahor scores on the break!

Birmingham 1-1 Aston Villa. Fantastic distribution from Friedel out to Young, he brought it forward before passing to Hogg, who in turn found Agbonlahor. The striker turned Bowyer with ease and placed it into the bottom left corner. His first goal since August.

From one end to the other in about ten seconds there, great break.

<i>Stats: Birmingham's only cup win over Villa came in the first leg of the 1963 League Cup final. The Blues won 3-1 and then drew the return leg to lift their only major trophy to date. </i>

Bowyer plays a neat one-two with Jerome on the edge of the area, but the English midfielder missed his kick.

Zigic feeds Jerome in and he's clean through...

He chips it over the onrushing Friedel but it drifts agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.

Bannan and Young with a neat exchange down the right, but the latter is penalised for a foul on Bowyer.

Warnock with a great piece of defending, using his strength to ease Larsson off the ball as the Birmingham winger accelerated down the wing at pace.

Ipswich v West Brom in the other quarter-final is 0-0 at the moment, while Manchester City lead Salzburg int he Europa League.

Poor challenge from Hogg on Bowyer, but he avoids a booking.

Lookign back it seems to be a pretty good challenge, ball first then man.

Birmingham corner now...

Larsson swings it in and Agbonlahor heads it out for another corner.

Dunne rises highest this time to head clear. But the return ball into the box is sliced away by Collins for another Blues corner.

Fizzed in towards Ferguson at the near post, but Collins clears.

Free-kick for Birmingham about 35 yards out.

Larsson fires it in towards the back post but it's too long for his frustrated-looking team-mates.

<i>Stats: Bimringham are playing in the quarter-finals for the first time in five seasons, and are targeting a fifth semi-final appearance, and their first since finishing runners-up to Liverpool in 2001. </i>

Snow continues to fall at St Andrew's but neithe rside has frozen yet, it's been a fast-paced first period.

Ridgewell having a moan to the assistant about a throw-in not given his way.

Jerome peanlised for pushing Warnock. He went down very easily, but he's got strong arms that Jerome!

Bannan with a lovely ball for Agbonlahor and Downing looks to create something now. The ball is returned to Bannan and he shoots from distance. Easy enough for Foster.

Birmingham straight down the other end and win a corner.

The ball drops to Ridgewell but he appeared to be caught by surprise and Villa clear things up.

Friedel knocks the ball long but Agbonlahor called up for backing in.

Half-time whistle goes.

<b>HALF-TIME: Birmingham 1-1 Aston Villa.</b> A great pace to the first half, fast and furious stuff at St Andrew's. Larsson gave Blues the lead from the penalty spot, but moments after the home side had a goal disallowed, Agbonlahor levelled for Villa. It's still all to play for in the second half so grab a cup of tea and I will see you back here in ten minutes.

<img src="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1201/seblarssonpenalty20101201_275x155.jpg"><br> Sebastien Larsson fired Birmingham into the lead from the penalty spot, before Agbonlahor's equaliser.

Welcome back, the second-half has just got under way and hopefully we have 45 exciting minutes ahead.

Of course, we could be in line for extra-time - this match has to finish tonight!

Villa keeping the early possession, but Birmingham soaking up the pressure well and now having a go themselves.

Great touch by Agbonlahor to take it around Dann and he's been cynically brought down.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Dann deservedly booked for that challenge.

The ball floated in towards Dunne who runs in at the back post, but he can't reach it as it sails over his head an dout for a goal-kick.

Vill happy to build things up patiently, good exchanges between Young, Downing, Agbonlahor and Bannan.

Larsson with a marauding run down the right but his cross fails to get past the first man.

Bannan cuts inside from the right and curls a cross in with his left but, not for the first time tonight, it's a poor delivery.

A bit of a scrappy start to the second half.

Zigic flicks it to Larsson, who crosses towards Jerome...

Well intercepted by Collins.

Young beginning to cause some problems.

The handbags are out as Ridgewell and Bowyer sandwich young Barry Bannan.

Amazingly it's been given as a Birmingham free-kick down in their own corner, very unlucky for Bannan.

Superb near-post cross from Fahey and Friedel does well to prevent the ball getting across him.

Straight down the other end and Foster produces a carbon copy, getting down at his near-post to prevent Ashley Young's dazzling run and fizzed cross from reaching Agbonlahor.

End to end stuff!

<i>Stats: Aston Villa, last season's runners-up, are looking for a record 14th appearance in the League Cup semi-finals. </i>

Agbonlahor turns on the burners to get past Bowyer but once more Villa are let down by the final ball.

Warnock brings Villa forward now, before switching it to Bannan.

Good determination from Villa, first Hogg and then Young on the edge of the Birmingham box to keep the move alive.

Bannan strikes one from 25 yards out...

It's a decent strike but Foster gets his body behind it and keeps it in his hands.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com//design05/images/2010/1201/gabrielagbonlahorceleb20101201_275x155.jpg"><br>Gabriel Agbonlahor celebrates netting his first goal since August.

Houllier out of his technical area, surely urging his players to turn the scre while they are dominating.

Stephen Carr booked for a late challenge on Warnock. Free-kick down Villa's left wing, with a chance to deliver from a wide area.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Carr

Hogg with some space on the edge of the area, but his shot is defletced out for a corner.

Bannan this time sees his shot hit a Birmingham defender. Throw-in deep in Blues territory.

Luke Young crosses to Dunne, who kocks it down to Collins. But Johnson gets his foot in before his opposite number can pull the trigger.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Gardner on for Bowyer.

Bowyer and Hogg collided a few minutes ago and he had been limping around since then.

Gardner played for Villa for five years, but is a lifelong Blues fan.

UPDATE: Ipswich are 1-0 up against West Brom thanks to a Grant Leadbitter penalty.

Ridgewell crosses towards Zigic but Warnock is up like a salmon to head it away.

Villa continue to press and Downing's cross is diverted away by Dann for a corner.

Another terrible delivery from Ashley Young!

<i>Stats: Alex McLeish's side have won only two of their last eight outings in league and cup, but have avoided defeat in seven of those matches.</i>

Ridgewell and Fahey trying to give Birmingham some much-needed oomph.

And the Blues players are having a moan again after Carr was denied a corner.

Bannan has looked really good for Villa, pulling the strings for the visitors and showing some great touches and great vision.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Hogg goes in the book for a late challenge on Gardner.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ireland on for Bannan.

I gave wee Barry the kiss of death there apparently!

Ireland certainly the sort of player who can slip in unannounced to grab a crucial goal in a game like this.

Villa still moving the ball around impressively.

The game being played entirely in Birmingham's half at the moment.

Villa probing and Downing strikes one from distance, though it is blocked by Dann in a rather unconventional way!

He kicked his own standing leg which deflected the ball away, and is now subsequently in some pain.

<i>Stats: This is Villa's first away tie in this season's competition, having already defeated Blackburn and Burnley at Villa Park, although the latter took them to extra time. </i>

Collins begins another Villa attack but they are being stifled time after time by a disciplined looking Birmingham.

A rare break from the Blues, instigated superbly by Gardner who wrongfoots two Villa players before striking a powerful effort just wide of Friedel's left post.

Flick on by Young finds Agbonlahor down the right but, guess what? Yup, another poor cross.

Ireland shoots but Villa struggling to even work Foster as Birmingham's defenders are blocking everything.

Young searches for Ireland with an intelligent through-ball but the pass is overhit.

Great pace from Agbonlahor down the right, unbelievable speed and finally a decent cross. It's over Young but it falls to Ireland who strikes one with his left...

Well saved by Foster, first to deny Ireland and then Young.

Jerome slices a shot and it's out for a throw-in - I kid you not.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Young booked for tripping Ridgewell.

Downing dinks one in but Birmignham again standing firm.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Zigic has scored!

<b>Birmingham 2-1 Villa.</b> Jerome with a great run down the left, he pulled the ball back and Zigic's shot from eight yards out was deflected, seemingly in slow-motion, over Friedel.

Amazing, Villa have been utterly dominant in the second half, but they have been undone by the sort of pacy counter-attack that is usually associated with them!

Villa pushing even harder now as Birmingham drop deep.

Downing crosses and Clark heads one inches over at the near-post.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Murphy on for Larsson.

That's a left-back on for a right winger! Larsson is holding his groin/hip and looks in some discomfort.

Downing with another teasing ball and Johnson heads it out for a Villa corner.

Foster with a great peice of handling as three Villa players challenged him for the ball.

West Brom are out, Ipswich held on to beat them 1-0 and they will fly the flag for the Championship in the next round.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Pires and Delfouneso on for Warnock and Hogg.

Attackign change from Houllier but is it too late?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Derbyshire on for Zigic, who unsurprisingly receives a standing ovation.

Five minutes of added time to play.

Young crosses towards Collins but the ball was right behind him and he couldn't generate enough power to direct it past Foster.

Referee blows up for a foul by Collins on Ridgewell. much to the consternation of Villa's players and fans.

Jerome takes the ball into the corner and Birmingham win a free-kick exactly where Villa don't want them to be.

There should be time for one more attack.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15">Another foul from Collins and this time he is booked for his troubles.

Time for a late Villa corner...

Birmingham break down the other end but Derbyshire and Jerome can't engineer an opening.

And there goes the final whistle! Birmingham are through to the semi-finals.

There's a pitch invasion from the fans, what a night to remember for the Blues.

<b>FULL-TIME: Birmingham 2-1 Villa.</b> Just as they did against Chelsea and on numerous occasions over the past 18 months, Birmingham soaked up the pressure and it was Zigic who popped up to make himself a Blues hero with the winner in the second-city derby. Birmingham fans celebrating in front of the travelling Villa support, so hopefully things won't flare up! Thanks for joining us folks and check out the <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=847827&sec=uefaeuropaleague&cc=5739"