Caltex Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak has helped Aston Villa move into the automatic promotion places in the Championship after a gripping Second City Derby win over Birmingham City overnight.
Villa boss Steve Bruce brought Jedinak into the starting XI for the clash and it proved a masterstroke as his side won 2-0 to move into second spot.
After a goalless first half, Villa took control after the break with goals to Albert Adomah and Conor Hourihane securing the club’s seventh successive Championship win.
After starting on the bench in the previous round, Jedinak was the only change for Villa, brought in to protect the back four.
And the bearded Aussie did a superb job to sniff out any potential Birmingham threats for most of the 90 minutes.
The visitors were also reduced to 10-men late on when Cheikh Ndoye saw red in the final moments of the game after clashing with Jedinak and John Terry, earning his second yellow card.
It was an emotional win for Villa boss Bruce, whose father passed away during the week.
Villa will look to make it eight wins on the bounce next weekend when they travel to fifth-placed Fulham.
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, Aussie keeper Brad Jones’ Feyenoord were on the end of a 3-1 defeat at Vitesse.
Feyenoord, who took a 21st-minute lead, ended the match with just nine men following second-half red cards to Bilal Basacikoglu and Tyrell Malacia.