Aston Villa analysis: Unhappy clappers overshadow derby

No doubt someone, somewhere at Blues is feeling a little sheepish today, after souvenirs intended to create a vibrant atmosphere inside St Andrew’s were instead used as missiles by a minority of mindless supporters, who showed up both their club and city on national television.

On at least two occasions referee Andrew Madley was forced to call a halt to proceedings as cardboard rained down from the stands, the decision to hand them out later being branded ‘ridiculous’ by Villa boss Steve Bruce and ‘awful and naive’ by West Midlands Police.

Sadly, clappers were not the only things thrown. Several plastic bottles were also hurled in the direction of Villa players, while two were struck by coins.

All of which meant what happened on the pitch in one of the more entertaining recent editions of a 140-year-old rivalry got somewhat lost amid the post-match discourse.

There might not have been any goals but it was hardly for the want of trying, as several players went close to finding their way into derby folklore only for the finishing touch to prove elusive.

Cheikh Ndoye, Jota and Sam Gallagher missed glorious chances for Blues, while both Keinan Davis and Jonathan Kodjia struck the woodwork for Villa.

Kodjia also had a header kept out by home keeper Tomasz Kuszczak’s brilliant, one-handed flying save as Bruce’s men finished the game on top.

By the final whistle, however, it was difficult for Villa to quibble too much with the result, not after Blues had dominated the middle portion of the game. The point ensured Bruce’s men remain in the Championship top six heading into a week which gets no easier, with a midweek trip to Preston followed by Saturday’s visit of Sheffield Wednesday to Villa Park.

There is no fixture which means quite as much to Villa supporters as the derby, yet the next two, both against teams with play-off aspirations, are arguably more important in the context of the season.

Bruce will almost certainly be without Kodjia at Deepdale on Wednesday after the striker was forced off late in the game with an ankle injury.

The loss will be tempered somewhat thanks to an encouraging cameo from Davis who, following a quiet few weeks, again looked a striker to be reckoned with.

By far the biggest positive however, at least from a Villa perspective, was the impact of the returning Mile Jedinak.

The Australian, with just 45 minutes under his belt all season, arrived on the pitch with Blues in command yet his presence helped swing momentum back in Villa’s favour for the final half an hour.

It was the visitors who had been quickest to find their stride, with Kodjia heading wide inside the opening two minutes.

Yet Blues rallied well as the half drew on and almost took the lead when the lively Isaac Vassell, who would later leave the game with a knee injury, charged down Villa keeper Sam Johnstone’s clearance and watched it whistle just wide.

The best chances arrived after the break.

Jota pounced on a loose Conor Hourihane pass but blazed over with just Johnstone to beat, while substitute Sam Gallagher was also off target six yards out.

Kodjia’s header, saved by Kuszczak, came when Villa were under the cosh but they were on top when Davis thundered a shot against the bar and Kodjia clipped the woodwork with a curling effort.