Bruce happy to mix it with Villa

The recent practice match was meant as a fitness exercise, but Birmingham manager Bruce revealed it was 'kicking off everywhere'.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill described it as 'feisty'.

It also got both men wondering what the real thing would be like at St Andrew's.

Bruce said: 'I know they're our fiercest rivals but Martin needed a few players fit, I needed a few fit, so we organised a game between ourselves — and it was a bit spicy, to say the least.

'It was incredible. I don't know who the referee was but he played his part — he let everything go. It was just what both of us wanted. It was a proper, noholds- barred game. Expect the same again on Sunday.

'Martin and I just stood there enjoying it. We got far more out of it than you could get out on the training pitch. You don't normally get that kind of game, but I've got the hugest respect for Martin — he's a football person.'

O'Neill was just as enthusiastic about the game, which Villa won 4-3 at their Bodymoor Heath training ground, although Birmingham's fit-again Mikael Forssell gave a warning of the threat he poses with a hat-trick.

'It was lively stuff, quite strong really, and I don't think either of us expected it to get as feisty as it did,' explained O'Neill.

'What it confirmed to me was this is not an ordinary game on Sunday. They're meaty affairs with plenty of atmosphere. It's a big derby, my first, but not the players' first. I just hope we keep a clear head and show some discipline.

'I don't want to end up as we did against Manchester United with nine players.'

The derby's recent reputation is built on the sides' highlycharged 2002 match, their first in 16 years, when Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman's let in a comical own goal after he failed to control Olof Mellberg's throw-in.

Birmingham fans spilled on to the pitch to celebrate each goal in their 3-0 victory and a supporter was subsequently jailed after running up to Enckelman to taunt him.

Those shameful scenes were followed by a bitter return at Villa Park, which exploded into acrimony when Dion Dublin was sent off for a butt on Robbie Savage and Joey Gudjonsson received a red-card for a two-footed tackle on Matthew Upson. The match was later the subject of an FA inquiry.

In another potentially troublesome twist, former Villa defender Liam Ridgewell now captains Birmingham after his summer move across the city. O'Neill could not guarantee Ridgewell a game so he left in a £2million deal and Bruce believes the centre back has benefited.

'He's still got to improve but Martin has made a decision, which you have to accept, and he's brought in Zat Knight and Curtis Davies,' said Bruce.

'It was his call. Martin's obviously looking to get a team into that European place, that's his remit. It's all about opinions. I think I got a terrific bargain in Liam. He had no qualms about coming across the city.

'When you look at his statistics, he's a boy of 23, he's played nearly 100 times for Villa. For us it was a no-brainer.'

O'Neill admits he is not surprised to see Ridgewell captaining Birmingham, despite letting him go. 'He's doing fine, they're pleased with him. He wanted to go and that happens,' he said.

The referee for tomorrow's game, Steve Bennett, has already had a run-in with O'Neill, sending him to the stands after a row at Villa's match against Fulham in August. But the Villa boss said: 'I apologised and I have no problem with him at all.'