Enckleman, Sorensen, Friedel… Gollini?

The newspapers and websites this week have been full of ‘how Blues can win’ and ‘how Villa can win’. I thought I’d add my own assessment based on past derbies between the two clubs.

Blues have had lady luck on their side when it comes to Villa goalkeepers. Firstly, there was Peter Enckleman with ‘that’ goal. Then in the return fixture at Villa Park, the same ‘keeper bottled a challenge from Geoff Horsford who went on to score on the way to another Blues win.

Then there was Thomas Sorensen. At St. Andrews in 2004, Sorensen let an Emile Heskey shot bobble under his arm into the net when in truth it was a straightforward save. Blues went on to win that game 2-0.

Sorensen followed it up with another clanger in the return game when he failed to hold on to a Clinton Morrison shot which squirmed under him.

And don’t forget Brad Friedel. During the League Cup quarter final in 2011, Nikola Zigic’s deflected shot looped over the out-of-position American ‘keeper. Blues won 2-1.

Their current first choice keeper is Pierluigi Gollini, a six-foot-two Italian. The 21 year-old has been very inconsistent this season so far and has cost Villa goals after making mistakes.

Gary Rowett will be aware of that and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has instructed his players to test Gollini with an array of shots and crosses. Blues can unsettle the Italian by standing right on him from set pieces and by making him commit himself to crosses.

Obviously, in Blues’ goal, both Adam Legzdins and Tomasz Kuszczak, whichever one plays, has been probe to errors in the past. But Blues haven’t been short changed from Villa ‘keepers in the past so tomorrow, they should try and work Gollini to the bone.