Defender Warnock in derby boost
Friday 23rd April 2010, 12:46PM BST.
Villa defender Stephen Warnock today declared himself fit for derby-day combat – and called for calm heads in the white-hot atmosphere which awaits on Sunday.
The left-back had emerged as a doubt for this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated Birmingham clash after soldiering through Wednesday’s win at Hull with an ankle problem.
But he has handed Martin O’Neill’s top-four hopefuls a major boost by confirming he is primed for battle.
“I’m fine, I took a couple of whacks but nothing out of the ordinary so I’m fit and ready,” said Warnock.
“I’ve got a black eye because I got an elbow to the face and I got a kick on the ankle but it’s not a problem at all. It’s just part and parcel of the game and you’ve just got to get on with it.”
Blues head to the claret and blue side of the Second City desperate to avenge the 5-1 drubbing dished out by O’Neill’s men the last time they met at Villa Park – as well as their 1-0 defeat at St Andrew’s earlier in the campaign.
Warnock, who made his debut in that game, is expecting another fiercely-fought contest with bragging rights at stake but insists it is imperative the claret and blues keep their cool in the heat of battle.
“With the experience of the team and a few of the lads having played in these games before you understand what they’re about, then you become accustomed to it and understand what you have to do,” he said.
“It calls for calm heads to put the foot on the ball and take the pressure off to calm the crowd down.”
UK Sport
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