All the talk this week has been of Bradford City’s remarkable two legged defeat of Premier League side Aston Villa and it was truly unbelievable to think a League 2 side had knocked out a top flight side but for Villa it may be a blessing in disguise.
Villa currently sit in 17th position, just 1 point above the relegation places and the Carling Cup run was a welcome distraction to a faltering season in the league but fans at Villa Park on Tuesday only need to look at what happened to city rivals Birmingham City when they reached the League Cup Final in 2011.
Birmingham City lifted the League Cup after beating Arsenal on February 27 2011 in Wembley. In the next 12 Premier League games Birmingham picked up just 8 points from 2 wins and 2 draws. Beating Arsenal ruined ruined The Gunners season as they lost the chance of lifting one of 4 titles in a matter of weeks but winning the League Cup didn’t help Alex Mcleish’s side to stave off relegation.
At the end of the season the Birmingham City players owned a League Cup winners medal but the side had been relegated to the Championship after their poor run in the last 12 games of the season saw them finish in 18th place, only a single point from 17th placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Paul Lambert’s side can learn from the heartache of being knocked out in the semi-finals and remember the pain of disappointment to make sure they don’t feel the same on the last day of the Premier League season.
Villa boss Paul Lambert has made it clear how he will respond to the League Cup heartache, “I will come out fighting.”
Sam Jewell