Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has sprung to the defence of Birmingham City after a fan attacked Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish at St. Andrews on Sunday, report the BBC (12:57).

A debate has ensued since the incident as to whether the Blues should shoulder responsibility for it but the City boss has dismissed that idea.

[ad_pod ]

"Birmingham is not guilty for anything. It is the person not the club,” he said.

"We misunderstand where we have to put the focus.

“The clubs can try everything but you cannot control absolutely everything and the behaviour of the people on the street.”

The man responsible for the attack has since been sentenced to 14 weeks in jail and given a ten-year ban from attending any football match.

It did not seem to faze Grealish, however, as he popped up 20 minutes from time to score the only goal of the game as Villa once again came with the bragging rights.

It is a result that lifted Dean Smith’s side above their local rivals and to within just four points of Derby County, who currently occupy final spot in the top-six.

The verdict

I think Pep is probably right here.

As long as club’s are doing what they can to prevent these idiots from invading the pitch then I fail to see why they should be punished.

The way stewarding and policing of matches is carried out definitely needs to be reviewed, however.