Sports Argus from Birmingham, West Midlands, England • 19

SPORTS ARGUS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19 1981 10 I I I Now pride that counts for Peter and Jim PETER WITHE has bittersweet memories of Villa-Blues clashes Jim Smith can recall only disappointments But when the first pail of the twice-yearly epic unfolds at Villa Park next Saturday Villa striker Withe and Blues boss Smith will be desperately hoping their particular team emerges as top dog Forget the fact that both teams are battling for three points even dismiss the fact the Villa are champions Only one thing really matters when Villa and Blues meet head on Second City pride Whichever camp you favour all about holding your head high in the street or being forced to sulk In some dark corner of your local Twice a year Brum is split down the middle a simple case of royal blue or claret and blue There was a wry smile on the face of Jim Smith when he pointed out: been manager of Blues for four games against Villa and lost every one so about time we had a change in fortunes matter whether you are champions or have just come out of the Second Division form counts for very little it rarely does in matches before I arrived at St Blues had been unbeaten in five games against But despite the four defeats in a row Smith match WEST Ham players could I suppose be forgiven for allowing their heart to overrule their heads after such a stunningly successful start to the season Three wins and a draw took the ever-popular East London club straight to the top of the First Division within a fortnight of their return to elite But although those claret and blue bubbles have wafted to the dizziest of heights you'll struggle to find anyone at Upton Park intoxicated enough by their initial taming of the opposition to be outrageously optimistic Certainly not striker David Cross who contributed five of the 10 goals they hammered in only four games The 30-year-old centre-forward is just about one of the most sensible might say he admitted) guys you are ever likely to meet And he put West Ham situation into perspective have proved that we can win games at the higher level" he said after only four matches all we can claim is that we have 10 points which cannot be taken away from us one is getting carried away by our position other than perhaps Press blokes who want to yrite about any team that does well there is nothing dramatic I can say nothing sensational I want to say because there is a long long way to Who wants the dramatic and sensational? settle for some common sense for a change Crossie has plenty of that to offer told me: we have so far succeeded in doing is to confirm to ourselves that we have the ability to compete in the First Division of the team had played at the higher level before and believed that we would be equal to the task a bad start might have deflated our confidence put us under pressure and prevented us from producing our true form it happened we have begun well and established ourselves while reiOaining well aware there is a lot more to be done would say that during the first half dozen games of the season players are still getting themselves fully competitively tuned and we have to ask ourselves whether this has had any bearing on our results would be foolish for us to take anything for granted and for anyone of us to say things he might have Cross keeps his feet on the ground to have First we play football" That true will be date of games in because sparkling And Cross one of the be His 22 Second season Ham towards also 11 in the and Winners at Rochdale Coventry West Smith Jim when all is said and done all about Blues beating Villa" Smith added dryly: the record got against Villa perhaps I should go away scouting for the Meanwhile Peter Withe is among those rare breeds who have played in Second City encounters for both teams He recalls: played for Blues at Villa Park laid on a goal for Trevor Francis but eventually we lost 2-1 "Later that season I was really looking forward to the return at St But the day and that makes him one of the most successful if not famous strikers of his era He said: would never have the audacity to set myself scoring targets for any season because it depends on so many factors instance I rely on other work producing the scoring opportunities on my behalf job is done in the penalty area and unless the team is playing well enough to create chances I cannot expect to be as effective am fortunate to be playing in a side who play bright and attacking football and it does help considerably but I know if I am going to get injured so it would be silly of me to state that I expect to score 20 or more goals In a season: do feel that at 30 years of age I am benefiting by experience and the fact that I am fit enough to put my ideas into practice will not get me talking about whether I have reached a peak because once a striker admits thqt there is only one way to go down say on a plateau and would hope to remain on it for some time to come particularly want to do well this season because my contract expire next July and it is an important time for Cross is a man who will I am sure make an impact because his record is one of consistent scoring at all levels And provided he does his Job successfully West Ham have no need to fear before the game I was called aside by Willie Bell and told to go to Nottingham because they wanted to sign me so after all the build-up I missed the match" Withe played for Villa at St last season when a late goal by Allan Evans gave the claret and blues a 2-1 success He missed the return because of suspension hnd adds: means the only time piayed in a Villa-Blues match at Villa Park I was on the losing side I had better put the record straight next Saturday" suppose it will add a bit of spice if we beat Villa and also beat the League champions but us back in the Division because entertaining is certainly Supporters throughout the country pencilling the West Ham their diaries they are guaranteed to produce soccer himself is chief entertainers or should it heartbreakers goals in the Division last pushed West relentlessly back the top and he collected another League Cup European Cup Cup career tally Norwich Albion and Ham is 156 Sky Blues sit up ir in to ice the a nts ses St irn es! ue of too lee jrs irs eir re ipe tde ny to 1a- lOt aj- ed ng ild nt n- his 'is 11a lla nd tot er aa he tr lot an as iin ek ve lis By Martin Swain agrees: a everyone looks forward to and a tremendous day for the city of Birmingham 3 Allan leads Drinksville race COVENTRY CITY are disappointed but undeterred in their bid to bring peace to troubled terraces The Sky new-look ail-seater stadium designed to prevent hooliganism suffered a setback at the hands of Leeds United supporters during their 4-0 thumping at Highfield Road last week Wooden seats were torn up and used as missiles against police with three officers hurt during the trouble But City secretary David Dent hasre-affirmed the confidence In the new stadium with the bold forecast: It WILL Says Dent: never suggested that the problems would be solved on day one We went into the all seater scheme for various reasons 0 convinced that in the long term it isthe one positive step we can take to make football grounds safer and more enjoyable places to Dent denied some reports that response to the trouble caused by Leeds fans would be to slap a ban on any tickets going north for future League meetings between the clubs In Coventry would never want to do that What we will do Is as Leeds to make sure as far as possible that tickets are going to the right type of supporter in the future may well be that the behaviour on Saturday was as bad as It Is going to get We were not surprised about what happened We were a little bit disappointed It was something we expected would happen eventually What has delighted us is the reaction of our fans The Leeds contingent tried to rile them with chants and they got no response at all At the same time we lost any atmosphere It was suggested that sitting down would inhibit people But that been the The decision to convert Highfield Road Into first all-seater received plenty of criticism from Sky Blues fans criticism that was largely converted to praise after the opealng day match against Manchester United The trouble at the Leeds game then represents the first black mark against the stadium but although the club has had further talks with police this week there will be no radical change to match day organisation donated by Drinksville Wines and Spirits Retailers of Stirchley And this season there is an extra bonus The leading Villa player at the end of September will receive a magnum of champagne Then in the following months the top players at BlueS Albion Wolves Coventry and Walsall will each in turn receive a magnum of bubbly To bring the points totals right up to date look for the Man of the Match awards on Front Page ASTON VILLA: Allan Evans 25 Colin Gibson 9 BLUES: Kevin Dillon 17 Archie Gemmlll 8 Neil Whatmore 8 ALBION: Cyrilie Regis 9 Tony Godden 9 Derek Statham 8 David Mills 8 WOLVES: Andy Gray 16 Kenny Hibbitt 15 COVENTRY: Steve Hunt 17 Steve Whitton 8 Gary Gillespie 7 WALSALL: Brian Caswell 16 Ron Green 10 Dsve Sereiia 8 ASTON VILLA defender Allan Evans las taken a firm grip on the Sports krgus-Drinksville Man of the Match vwards table Evans has been awarded Man of the Match in hree of first four League matches to leap 25 points The only other Villa player in the mints before match was Colin Gibson with line Coventry Steve Hunt winner at High-leld Road last season has made another good tart He had already collected 17 points before game at Brighton Andy Gray and Kenny Hibbitt are fighting for tonours at Wolves Gray with 16 points is fust one ahead of Hibbitt irho took the award in the defeat by Spurs Ppints were awarded out of 10 by Sports Argus xperts at every League and FA Cup game nvolving Villa Blues Albion Wolves Coventry md Walsall At the end of the season the player with the ilghest total will receive a first prize of £500 Frank Worthington.