Birmingham midfielder Lee Carsley has kicked off the countdown to Sunday's Second City showdown with arch-rivals Aston Villa by admitting that the smell of revenge will be in the air at St Andrew's.

The last time the teams met in the Premier League, Birmingham were on the end of a 5-1 trouncing and although Carsley was not at the club at the time, he is only too keen atoning for that beating.

He explained: "We are all aware of the heavy 5-1 defeat at Villa. I am sure the manager will bring it up in his pre-match talk because to lose so comprehensively in a local derby is not a good thing for the players or the fans. It is not something you can forget about.

"A local derby also affects players in different ways. They can be playing brilliantly but go to pieces in a derby.

"It is important we have to make sure that we win our personal battles and that we get a result.

"It is a big game for the fans. But at the end of the day it is a great opportunity for us to get three points because we are at home."