Birmingham City: Lee Carsley looking to avenge 5-1 hammering by Aston Villa

Sep 10 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail

“It’s basically going to be whatever team turns up on the day has got a great chance of winning.”

Sheldon-raised Carsley will be the only Birmingham-born member of Blues’ squad this weekend, as opposed to Gabby Agbonlahor and Craig Gardner for Villa.

Yet, surprisingly, Sunday’s encounter will be the first time that the 35-year-old Brummie has experienced the Blues-Villa derby up close.

“To be honest, I haven’t really got that many memories of the fixture,” admitted ex-Everton star Carsley, a veteran of the Liverpool derby.

“The Blues matches that I went to (as a child) were when they weren’t in the same league as Villa and growing up I wasn’t a big watcher of football either, the tickets were a bit pricey.

“I’ve watched them on TV but I’ve not actually been to the ground myself. This will be my first Birmingham derby.”

And that may explain why Carsley is able to look beyond the passion and hype to focus on the real motivation – another three points towards top-flight safety.

“At the end of the day it’s a great chance for us to get three points because we’re playing at home,” he added.

“The key to survival in the Premier League is that you win your home games and try and get something away from home.

“Some players can be playing outstanding week-to-week but then they go into a derby and go to pieces.

“It’s important that we make sure that we are winning our personal battles then hopefully we will get a result.”