Stern slams equaliser for ‘Blues’

LONDON: Trinidad and Tobago international footballer Stern John equalised in the fourth minute of injury time yesterday as Birmingham City hit back from two goals down to capture a 2-2 tie with neighbours Aston Villa in the English Premier League. Villa appeared to be coasting to victory when German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger fired home a stunning left-foot drive from the edge of the penalty area soon after half time to  add to Darius Vassell’s first half strike. The opening goal was the England striker’s fourth in five matches. Vassell and Juan Pablo Angel had also missed three chances and the visitor had rarely troubled Villa ’keeper Thomas Sorensen. But Steve Bruce’s team hit back in the 61st minute when Finnish striker Mikael Forssell, on a season’s loan from Chelsea, struck his 12th of the season.

Villa appeared to be hanging on but Clinton Morrison fired in a shot which Sorensen could only block and the Trinidad and Tobago striker John hammered the rebound into the roof of the net. On Tuesday John was also on the scoresheet with an opening goal for Trinidad and Tobago against a Brazilian All-Star team at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. The tie means that the Blues haven’t lost to their neighbours in four matches since returning to the top flight after 16 seasons in the lower divisions. Steve Bruce’s team won 3-0 and 2-0 last term and the neighbours tied 0-0 at St Andrew’s in October.