Garry Thompson: Aston Villa players have the chance to make history against Birmingham City
Former Villa hero Garry Thompson reckons this Sunday's Second City Derby offers players the chance to write their names into club folklore.
Birmingham-born Thompson scored both goals when Villa won 2-1 at St Andrew's in 1987, the last time the two rivals met in the second tier. Sunday's clash is the first league clash between the clubs since January 2011 and Thompson, a Villa fan, believes the opportunity is there for the newest generation of players to write their own piece of history.
"Every time Villa play Blues it is a chance to get your name in the history books," he said. "These are the games the fans talk about for weeks beforehand and for years afterwards. If you get the winner in the derby they will never forget you."
Thompson believes it is Villa, unbeaten in three games under new boss Steve Bruce, who are carrying the momentum into the game but believes there is little to choose between the two teams.
"Bruce has got them organised and they look a better side already," he said. "But if I'm honest, I can see Sunday being a hard-fought draw. Gary Rowett has done a tremendous job there."
