The Second City derby is one of the fiercest rivals in English football and the whole of Birmingham comes to a stand still when Aston Villa take on the Blues.
Since Birmingham’s relegation to the Championship in 2011, the two sides did not meet until 2016 when their rivals tasted relegation from the top flight.
With both sides plying their trade in the Championship, the clubs are now on a level playing field.
Aston Villa have won 51 times in the Second City derby, whilst Birmingham City have won 37 times in this derby.
After winning 2-0 the last time these two sides met, and making the Playoffs, it is fair to say that Aston Villa are the footballing kings of Birmingham.
However, there is a change coming in the second city as the Blues start a revolution under new boss Garry Monk.
The Blues narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of last season but Monk is aiming for a promotion push this time around.
This is something that Birmingham fans have craved after years of disappointment and mediocrity, and Monk can be the man to bring the good times back to St Andrews.
Monk’s side have a healthy budget, which they showcased last summer by flexing their financial muscles in signing players such as Jota and Harlee Dean.
Birmingham now have a full summer to build a new squad that is capable of challenging at the top end of the table.
Monk has experience of battling for the Playoffs after his time with Leeds, but his team narrowly missed out on the top six and he can learn from those mistakes going forward.
The future looks bright for Birmingham, and the fans are sure to be flocking back to St Andrews if they ca mount a charge for the top six.
In contrast, Aston Villa is currently surrounded by uncertainty and financial crisis.
They lost out to Fulham in the Playoff Final last season, and the financial trouble may result in Steve Bruce losing his best players in order to balance the books.
Jack Grealish seems to be on his way out of the club, along with other high profile names in James Chester and Albert Adomah.
There seems to be a discotent at the moment between the fans and the ownership group, which is always a recipe for disaster.
With a limited budget this summer, Bruce may find it hard to attract the quality of player needed to mount another push for the Playoffs.
The tide seems to be turning in the Second City and this could be the season where Birmingham City officially regain the crown of the superior side in Birmingham.
