Birmingham City: Stephen Carr's vow on his return to Aston Villa after last season uproar

Oct 30 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

STEPHEN Carr says he will be on his best behaviour at Villa Park tomorrow.

Carr caused uproar at the end of Blues’ last visit to play their fierce rivals when he ran across the front of the North Stand to the tunnel making a hand gesture.

Villa fans complained to the police, who took no action, but Carr was hauled up before an FA disciplinary panel and banned for one match after admitting a charge of improper conduct.

The straight-talking Blues captain is a believer in what’s done is done and said it was pointless having regrets.

Emotions ran high at that defeat in April, with Blues furious Villa were awarded a penalty by referee Martin Atkinson for Roger Johnson’s tackle on Gabriel Agbonlahor. James Milner stuck away what proved to be the decisive goal.

Blues were left fuming and Johnson blasted Atkinson as a ‘disgrace’ and was fined £7,500 by the FA.

The club were also hit with a £10,000 rap for failing to control their players.

Carr, who also scuffed the penalty spot before Milner was about to take the kick, said afterwards that his ‘head had gone’ as he was so wound up by events.

“I’ll be behaving myself this time,” the Blues captain stressed.

“I didn’t get fined, I just missed a match. I’m not going through that again sitting in front of five men talking to me like a child so I’ll be keeping my hands to myself.”

He had never been up before FA beaks before and it was an uncomfortable experience.