Steve Bruce was able to use an age-old technique in preparation for his first Second City derby as manager. Forget touchpads or tactical talk, for an encounter underpinned by tribal instincts Bruce went back to basics.
Aston Villa captain Olof Mellberg had been rather dismissive about Birmingham City in advance of that Monday game on September 16, 2002, the first meeting between the teams in nine years.
So Bruce, then the Blues' boss, used the Swede's words against him. 'The thing that got us worked up for the game was Mellberg's comments,' said Geoff Horsfield, the striker who went down in Birmingham folklore for his contributions against the club's fierce rivals.