Birmingham vs Aston Villa preview - Bentley set for derby debut - 7M sport

Birmingham vs Aston Villa preview - Bentley set for derby debut



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Posted Sunday, January 16, 2011 by PA

Birmingham newcomer David Bentley is included in the squad for the Barclays Premier League derby clash with Aston Villa at St Andrew's on Sunday after signing on loan from Tottenham for the remainder of the season.

Blues will be without central defender Scott Dann who suffered a torn hamstring during the midweek Carling Cup semi-final setback at West Ham.

Manager Alex McLeish may switch Liam Ridgewell from left-back into the heart of the defence or draft in Martin Jiranek as a straight swap for Dann.

Midfielder Lee Bowyer is available after completing a three-game ban.

McLeish believes Birmingham have been denied half a dozen clear-cut penalties this season because they are an "unfashionable" club and are not getting a fair crack of the whip from officials.

The City boss feels they have been on the wrong end of several crucial spot-kick decisions by referees which could have altered the course of their campaign.

Blues' failure to be awarded a penalty during the Carling Cup semi-final with West Ham - when Matthew Upson appeared to push Barry Ferguson - was the final straw for McLeish.

He has now felt the need to state the case publicly for his side after seeing other managers complain about not getting a fair deal from officials - and then seeing their fortunes change.

McLeish told Press Association Sport: "We've definitely been on the wrong side of decisions with penalties this season, without question.

"You wonder what we've got to do to get a penalty.

"You've seen the handball by Robin van Persie, the double handball against Villa (Nigel Reo-Coker), the Blackpool player, Craig Cathcart, then Seamus Coleman handling against Everton.

"They are all crucial decisions. People might people say `Everton, they were the better team' or `Arsenal were the better team by a mile' when they played us.

"But it could be so different if you get the decisions that are clear-cut. We haven't had a fair share of bad decisions."

Aston Villa will be without key duo Emile Heskey and Ashley Young through suspension.

Striker Heskey will serve the second game of a three-match ban for his straight red card against Sunderland 10 days ago.

Winger Young is suspended for one match after he was sent off for two bookable offences in the FA Cup win at Sheffield United last weekend.

On-loan Tottenham defender Kyle Walker is expected to make his league debut for Villa after scoring against the Blades.

Villa have no new injury concerns with full-back Luke Young and Fabian Delph (both knee) are not yet ready to return.

Young could return to action within a fortnight after a visit to the specialist confirmed no serious damage.

Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun has signed but will not be eligible to play for up to two weeks while he obtains a work permit.

Manager Gerard Houllier admits the derby is "a must-win game" in the battle to climb clear of relegation trouble.

Houllier wants to make up for the "hurt" of Villa losing the Carling Cup quarter-final between the two clubs at St Andrew's last month.

He is aware of the bigger picture and Villa's need to lift themselves out of the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League.

But Houllier also wants to put a smile back on the faces of the Villa fans by defeating their local rivals after the tonic of last weekend's win at Sheffield United in the FA Cup.

Houllier said: "We, the staff and the players, are aware this is an opportunity to please our fans and to give them some good stuff to enjoy.

"Like them, we are hurt and not happy with the position we are in at this moment in the Premier League. We are in this together.

"It is another incentive to do well, first of all because it is a derby and, for the fans, it is very important.

"But also because we don't want to stay in the position we are.

"It is a challenge and we need to get out of this position as soon as possible.

"I was also hurt at seeing Birmingham in the semi-final of the Carling Cup because I think we should have been there

"Birmingham deserved it because they got there (the semi-finals) but I think we helped them a bit."



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