Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says form goes out the window ahead of today's derby against Birmingham City.

Birmingham head into the game without a win in their last seven matches but O'Neill does not think that will have any bearing on the game.

"That will not effect them going into a derby," he said. "They have done excellently all year and they have been a surprise to most people.

"They have eked out some amazing results this season and have done it through a lot of hard work, a lot of discipline and a lot of controlled play.

"I think that is the sort of side we are going to face and not a team which has not won in the last seven matches.

"Birmingham will be coming to Villa Park with plenty of confidence and in a better frame of mind than perhaps a couple of seasons ago when they lost 5-1.

"They have become a better team since then and I think we are a better side. But to ask us to repeat a game like that when we won 5-1 will be asking a lot."