Villa nightmare after Enckelman howler

Graham Taylor endured a night of misery as Aston Villa renewed their rivalry with neighbours Birmingham City.

Villa suffered a humiliating defeat, as much victims of their own neglect - and an astonishing own goal - as of Birmingham's committed display.

Birmingham went ahead through Clinton Morrison in the 31st minute and then Taylor watched in disbelief as his defence conceded the most bizarre of goals to wreck any hopes of a recovery.

Olof Mellberg aimed a harmless-looking throw-in towards goalkeeper Peter Enckelman in the 77th minute. There was no apparent danger and noone was within yards of the keeper. But he took his eye off the ball and it appeared to touch his foot before rolling into the net.

The home fans celebrated wildly as Birmingham proved they are no longer the Second City's second club.

Some supporters overstepped the mark when they ran on to the pitch while referee David Elleray was consulting his linesman over the validity of the goal. Villa's shoulders sagged and their disappointment continued when Alpay failed to deal with a through ball from Robbie Savage, allowing Geoff Horsfield to make it 3-0.

Those blunders were in complete contrast to the performance of the Villa defence in the first half, when they came under such enormous pressure from the rampant home attack. Seasoned internationals such as Mellberg, Alpay, Steve Staunton and Ronnie Johnsen had to use all their experience to protect the goal.