Milner spot-on for Villa in derby win

James Milner kept Aston Villa’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League alive by scoring a contentious penalty in a 1-0 derby win over Birmingham City here on Sunday.

The England midfielder scored from the spot seven minutes from time after City’s Roger Johnson was ruled to have brought down Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor in the box.

However, Birmingham were incensed by referee Martin Atkinson’s decision, with replays indicating Johnson had won the ball.

Villa are now level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who currently occupy the last Champions League place on offer to English clubs, although thy have played one game more and have an inferior goal difference.

“I can understand their frustration because they played well, but that’s happened a lot to us this season,” Villa manager Martin O’Neill told Sky Sports afterwards.

“If they’re disputing the decision there’s no dispute about it because it’s a penalty kick. I’ve seen it back since, and it’s a penalty.”

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, who saw his side denied a goal several times by Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel, unsurprisingly had a different view of Atkinson’s decision although Birmingham remained ninth despite this loss.

“It was a great tackle, simple,” said McLeish, who as Rangers manager opposed O’Neill in the Glasgow derby when the latter was in charge of Celtic.

“Viewers all over the world have seen it and it was a bad mistake by the referee. It was a terrific performance by my players and I thought we deserved to win it, let alone losing to a controversial penalty.

“It’s like (Stoke manager) Tony Pulis said this morning, the bigger teams seem to get the big decisions. I’m sorry Martin, I’d have to disagree with you – if that’s a penalty, there would be 40 a game.”

Chelsea will return to the top of the English Premier League table if they beat Stoke at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Victory would see Carlo Ancelotti’s side go a point clear of reigning champions Manchester United with both teams having two league games left.