Villa boss thinks class told against Blues

Delighted Villa boss Tim Sherwood insisted his side had shown their class as they took the bragging rights with a 1-0 win in the Capital One Cup Second City derby.

Sherwood insists he always intended to change tactics in the second-half and reckoned rivals Blues were unable to cope.

He said: "First-half, we were a bit direct then in the second were made changes and our midfield got on the ball. We were popping it around and they couldn't handle it.

"The plan worked. We always like to play free-flowing football but we showed that we can mix it up to get a result. We showed our class."

Match-winner Rudy Gestede praised Sherwood for the half-time changes.

Gestede said: "It was so important to get the win because it was a big derby. We changed things at half-time and tried to get the ball a bit more. We did that well and got the goal, so it was good management."

The striker knew Villa could cope with the pressure despite losing back-to-back league matches against Midlands rivals Leicester City and West Brom.

He said: "The pressure was OK because it is normal. We just had to be focused."

Blues boss Gary Rowett claimed his side had "more than matched" their Second City rivals for long periods.

He said: "We were undone by one moment of quality. Jack Grealish changed the game for them with some of the areas he was in, and the goal was a brilliant finish."

Rowett rued a late chance for striker Jacques Maghoma that was kept out by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan, adding: "If that had gone in it would have been interesting."