Gabriel double act hands the spoils to Villans and breaks Bruce's heart

By NEIL MOXLEY

Last updated at 07:44 12 November 2007

Fans remember the heroes and villains of derby games more than any other on the fixture list. Aston Villa's supporters will fondly remember this Birmingham

derby as belonging to Gabriel Agbonlahor.

The England Under 21 striker was at the centre of the two incidents

that ultimately settled this feisty encounter, irrespective of Steve

Bruce's rant at referee Steve Bennett after the final whistle.

Scroll down for more

The nerves of both sets of supporters were being stretched to the

limit when Agbonlahor was involved in game-turning moments

at either end of the pitch.

First, he denied Liam Ridgewell what would have been a perfect

ending to a day that had started out in such gut-wrenching fashion

for the Birmingham skipper.

Agbonlahor stuck to his defensive duties to clear Ridgewell's goalbound header off the line with the slightest of touches.

Earlier, former Villa centre half Ridgewell had hung his head when he deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper to give Martin O'Neill's side a ninth-minute lead from their first attack of note.

That was one defining moment. The other arrived 60 seconds later.

Another glancing touch by Agbonlahor from Ashley Young's left-wing centre earned O'Neill a victory that had appeared beyond his grasp for long periods of the

second half.

Agbonlahor, 21, added another impressive scalp to those he has collected this season. So far, he has breached the defences of Manchester United and Chelsea and surely it will not be long before Steve McClaren, or whoever occupies the

England manager's chair, bows to the inevitable and gives the young forward his chance at a higher level.

O'Neill said: "There's no second year syndrome with him. He's got a

wonderful attitude to the game. He keeps improving. I'm very pleased

with him and I'm pleased for him. It was a great goal to win the game

but it's no fluke because he's working hard."

Goals that settle derby matches three minutes from the end are

bound to upset the losing manager. TV evidence suggested Bruce had

cause to criticise referee Bennett. But to cite the official alone

suggested a touch of sour grapes.

Despite the penalty appeals, Birmingham were fortunate to be

within sight of Villa at half-time. Maik Taylor saved with his legs

from the recalled John Carew and Agbonlahor saw a late effort go to

waste as Birmingham floundered.

Bruce has often called his derbyday selections correctly but his

decision yesterday to play Wilson Palacios backfired as the hosts

struggled for any shape, fluency and rhythm.

In fairness, Birmingham had looked bright when Villa took the

lead after a corner was cleared and returned wide to Stilian Petrov.

Olivier Kapo's challenge was weak, allowing the Bulgarian to push him

aside before sliding the ball across goal. It bounced up off the turf and

Johann Djourou shaped to intervene.

Ridgewell obviously felt his defensive partner was going to clear but the Swiss stopped, the ball hit Ridgewell on the thigh and

rebounded into the net.

Bruce's rant at the referee over the ball that struck Zat Knight's

arm after Cameron Jerome tried to flick it past him did have a point,

given that Premier League officials these days appear to give handball

irrespective of any intent.

And Martin Laursen did make contact with Daniel de Ridder after

he had cut inside Wilfred Bouma too easily. Bruce's anger was only

intensified by Bennett booking De Ridder for diving.

The half-time introduction of Mikael Forssell was the key to a

Birmingham revival. The Finn created space magnificently as

De Ridder played a first-time ball across goal, his header thundering

past Scott Carson.

Bruce said: "I couldn't wait to get them in at the break. We were

definitely better after that. We should have defended better for their first

goal but I thought of the two we looked more likely to win it."

Forssell's goal, greeted by what O'Neill called "the loudest roar I've

heard for some time", was the spark for Birmingham's best spell. The

volume would have increased still further had Jerome smashed a shot

past Carson. However, at the other end, Nigel Reo-Coker sidefooted over when glory beckoned.

It looked to be Ridgewell's day when he rose to greet Seb Larsson's

corner. He connected cleanly but Agbonlahor ruined what would

have undoubtedly been a lap of honour.

Instead, it was left to Agbonlahor to have the final say. It was a

wonderful moment for a man who is coming into his own. He stopped

Villa losing and then carried them to victory. For someone born in the

Villa stronghold of Erdington — only six miles from St Andrew's —

it could not get any better.

Just how local was the derby?

Just two locals were on display yesterday, both playing for the visitors. Gabriel Agbonlahor was born in Erdington, while Zat Knight, a Villa fan who has recently returned to the club from Fulham, hails from Solihull.