It appeared the good news hadn't filtered down to many living in what is one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country. In fact, residents in Alum Rock looked shocked when I told them their area was in line for a £1.3billion windfall.

The massive investment, generated mostly from local business rates, will be used to level up East Birmingham - from Alum Rock to Ward End. MP Liam Byrne described the package as a "game changer".

He said it was "one of the biggest investments" in East Birmingham - where child poverty and unemployment is high - "since World War ll". Big news then - though no one I interviewed knew anything about it.

Read more: Neglected Birmingham area to get £1.3 billion of funds to raise hope and create jobs

"I still don't believe it," Mo Dhawan told me when I showed him our article announcing the investment. "No one cares about us, that's facts. Well, the community cares yeah, but no one high up. I don't pay attention to anything because they don't pay attention to us."

When asked if he believes his area has been neglected compared to other parts of Birmingham, the 28-year-old Edmund Road resident said: "Of course it has. We're not Edgbaston or Harborne.

"We're outside the centre and forgotten about. I'd love to see money pumped into [this area] but I won't hold my breath."

Zarah Sarin, who lives on nearby Bridge Road, said she would welcome investment "any time". "It would be good for them in future times," said the 44-year-old mum while looking at her two children stood in her doorway.

Mr Byrne said the investment would connect East Birmingham to the huge new numbers of jobs that will be created by HS2 in the city centre and the new station at Birmingham Airport and the NEC. The vision would also see a new business park, a Soho Road-style business improvement area and better transport links.

I walked down the bustling Alum Rock Road which has a Soho Road feel about it. It also has everything you'd probably ever need within 80 feet of wherever you're stood.

Clothes shops, takeaways, mini-supermarkets and cafes line the street which goes on for more than a mile. There's clearly already a lot of jobs in this area.

A kebab house owner, who chose not to be named, agreed with me on jobs but said it didn't help his business. "I'd like to see a more diverse street with individuality," he said.

"There's too much of the same close together to do well. And rent is too high. [Investment in the area] would be good because we need to be brought up with the rest [of Birmingham]. Sometimes it can feel like the council, or the government, do not care about us. We will see what happens."

What should be seen as positive news for the areas was still met with an air of doubt by those who live and breath it. For this neglected community, action most certainly means more than words.

Huddersfield Town unable to score winner despite improved second half performance

- Huddersfield Town 1-1 Birmingham City- Rhys Healey scores second half equaliser- Point unlikely not enough in Club's survival persuit

Despite a spirited second half performance, a point will likely be too little as results elswhere all but confirmed a finish within the bottom three.

Nerves and noise was the overwhelming emotion at kick-off, with both sets of players and supporters aware of the magnitude of the game and potential result. With three changes made by André Breitenreiter, two of those in Rhys Healey and Danny Ward tried to link on the break early, but the away defence stood tall to knock away any potential danger for a throw in.

Brushing aside and defending an early free kick for Birmingham that came from a Rudoni foul in the final third, David Kasumu rushed forward and lashed his own cross-shot in the box which was deflected behind for a corner. Watching the first ball in from Rudoni knocked away, Town regathered possession and crossed again, with captain Michał Helik found at the far post. Looking to add to his nine goal haul for the season on the same afternoon he became the Club’s fourth ever back-to-back Hargreaves Memorial Player of the Year winner, his stretched effort fell kindly for the well positioned John Ruddy.

Responding with a chance of their own, Birmingham’s forwards linked well in the final third, working an opening for Keshi Anderson in the right hand channel. Not connecting with his effort at all well, his strike dribbled tamely wide of the near post, with Lee Nicholls watching it all the way.

While there were odd moments of hesitation, neither side was showing signs of the occasion getting on top of them, with each attacking with purpose. Attempting to get around the back of the Town defence with Ethan Laird, great defending from Alex Matos shut the move down, with the Birmingham man’s frustration getting the better of him as he shoved the midfielder in the back after losing the ball. Heading straight up the other end of the pitch, Matos almost turned from denier to supplier, with his chip landing with Jack Rudoni, who’s half volley bounced marginally high and wide.

Defending well when required, including from consecutive corners for Birmingham, the Terriers remained committed in attack, playing with imagination to try and unlock the deep defence. Spotting a great onward run from Turton behind the back line, David Kasumu almost executed a perfect driven ball over the top for Turton to cross from, but the returning full-back just couldn’t make contact as he leapt to connect on the volley. Drawing desperate fouls from the away side, too, Jack Rudoni was caught late out wide by Buchanan, who found himself booked as a result.

Luck, quality or both would seemingly be the difference, and Birmingham City thought it was on their side as Kōji Miyoshi had an effort from close range at the far post. Watching his own cross bounce kindly back to him, his volley was well saved by Nicholls who’s reflexes got Town out of trouble. Unable to make the same intervention moments later, Miyoshi made no difference in a similar position of the pitch, turning home a cross first time into the opposite corner of the goal to give his side a precious lead.

With two minutes added time indicated, the Terriers could make no reply before the half-time whistle was blown, giving themselves a tall task to reverse the scoreline after the break.

Roaring out of the blocks after the break with neither side making a change, the Terriers wasted no time to start their fightback. A move started by a wonderful ball forward from Turton to Rudoni taking a number of away midfielders out of the game, Town’s number eight kept his composure down the wing before cutting the ball back. Perfectly placed and weighted for Rhys Healey, the forward swept home past Ruddy first time, giving the game and second half a completely different look and feel.

Riding the noise and emotion from the crowd, Healey could’ve scored again within seconds of his first. Finding himself chasing down an awkward bouncing ball over the top, he could only knock it into the chest of the oncoming John Ruddy, who did well to make the chance even harder for the Town forward.

Pushing themselves with the crowd at their back, the Terriers forced a number of dead balls with Birmingham City conceding corner kicks and free kicks as they looked to defend their own box. Unable to make them count despite the momentum being in their favour, results elsewhere had turned to mean anything but three points would all but seal Town’s fate in the bottom three of the division. With the away side still showing signs of danger of the break, too, things were far from certain, but Brodie Spencer made an intervention overlapping two of his own men to win the ball back down the wing, getting fouled as a result.

Introducing both Sorba Thomas and Ben Wiles from the bench with Josh Koroma and Alex Matos making way, Head Coach André Breitenreiter made attacking changes to give the Terriers more bite in the final third, later taking Ollie Turton off as well to send Bojan Radulovic up the field. Despite those changes, the away side did create the next chance of the game, with Jay Stansfield rolling an effort across the face of goal and wide.

Giving their all but falling short, Town saw a strike wide from Ward before another series of set-plays came their way in added time. Sending goalkeeper Lee Nicholls forward, he remained in the opposition box for three consecutive corner kicks, but even with the box packed, it wasn’t to be, and Matty Pearson’s off balance header over was ultimately the final action of the game. Another draw in a series of fixtures this season the side will be questioning how they haven’t won, the table and mathematics remain against us heading into the final weekend.

TOWN'S TEAM (3-5-2)

Lee Nicholls; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik, Brodie Spencer; Ollie Turton (Bojan Radulovic 79'), David Kasumu, Alex Matos (Ben Wiles 68'), Jack Rudoni, Josh Koroma (Sorba Thomas 58'); Danny Ward, Rhys Healey

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES

Chris Maxwell; Delano Burgzorg, Jaheim Headley, Tom Edwards, Ben Jackson, Tom Iorpenda

TOWN GOAL

Rhys Healey 47'

TOWN CARD

Jack Rudoni 80'

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Ollie Watkins was the star of Aston Villa's win over Bournemouth last time out, setting up the last two goals, but he could not have done it without Morgan Rogers. Villa could not have sustained this Champions League push without Rogers.

Since arriving from Middlesbrough in January for an initial fee of £8m, the 21-year-old signing has been a huge hit under Unai Emery, taking on greater responsibility than anticipated. He has become a driving force in this Villa team.

His solo goal for the equaliser against Bournemouth was typical, featuring that blend of power and finesse that makes him such an awkward opponent. The pass that put Watkins through for what turned out to be the winning goal showed vision too.

Rogers' success is a reminder of the talent that lurks in the Championship although he is unusual. This is a physical imposing figure but one who ranks among the top 10 dribblers per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season. It is a rare combination.

"I think that is what makes him even more dangerous compared to others who are known for dribbling the ball," Michael Appleton tells Sky Sports. "It is one thing being nippy with a slight frame and going past people but when you are 6'2" and you can do that…"

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Appleton, who gave Rogers his league debut at Lincoln City, adds: "He has grown into it a bit but he was always a decent stature. The good thing about Morgan is that some of these young players who have these physical attributes they don't know how to use them.

"Some of them are almost scared of their own shadow at times, aren't they? Morgan is the opposite. He actually likes the contact. He enjoys people being really tight to him and he can then use his physical frame to roll them on the inside or the outside."

Appleton had been aware of Rogers when he was very young, having worked at West Brom's academy. He spoke to coaches Jimmy Shan and Mark Harrison, now Villa's academy manager, receiving positive feedback and taking him on loan from Manchester City.

Eager to test himself at first-team level, what stood out even as a teenager is that, after leaving West Brom for a season in City's development squad, Rogers was ready to play - both mentally and physically. "The kid was that confident," says Appleton.

"We were not the biggest team and I remember there were a couple of games where we were thinking about the opposition and who to pick up, and he just said, 'Put me on their biggest player. I will do the job.' He genuinely meant it. He had so much belief."

Lincoln reached Wembley that season, losing to Blackpool in the League One play-off final. With Brennan Johnson also in the team, Rogers found himself used in various positions. "Because I knew Morgan liked contact, I knew I could play him inside as a 10."

They were reunited at Blackpool in January of last year only for Appleton to depart within days. Only a back problem had prevented the deal being completed in the summer. "I always joke with him that if we had done it in August, he would have kept me in a job."

Rogers learned from that experience at the wrong end of the Championship, eventually signing permanently for Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough. "Michael recognised that this was a player who could play at the top end of the Championship comfortably."

That he was still on loan at Blackpool less than a year ago is a reminder of how quickly Rogers' progress has been - and how far he has already come. It is the top end of the Premier League now. "That has not surprised me in the slightest," says Appleton.

Rogers is still learning, a process aided by his mentality. Unai Emery says that he is "very demanding of himself" and the off-the-ball work is now much improved. This is a player who can press well, eating up the ground, and increasingly mature in his position play.

"That was an area where we wanted more from him at Lincoln," says Appleton. "Because he is a lad who gets it and wants to improve, he has done that." A curious detail is that he blocks a cross more regularly than any other non-defender in the Premier League.

It helps that Emery and his team had recognised that there was a place for him at Villa. This was no punt but a calculation that Rogers had the qualities to slip seamlessly into the side. What he is doing now is very similar to what he was doing when at Middlesbrough.

The player radar highlights that. Emery is clearly pleased. "He is a player," he told Sky Sports at the weekend. "He is intelligent. He understands football. When we analysed and we signed him, it was because we analysed his ability to adapt quickly to our structure."

The decision to drop down to the Championship has been vindicated. Rogers was not the highest-profile young departure from City in the summer, that was Cole Palmer. But it is not the Chelsea player who is now likely to be in the Champions League next season.

"When you leave a club that you have been at since a boy to go to an institution the size of Man City, sometimes you can get lost among the number of bodies they have in the building," Appleton explains. "You have to take a step back to go forward again."

Rogers is only looking ahead now. It is tempting to say that he will find himself in the Champions League but he is more than along for this ride. He has been a key factor in Villa maintaining their momentum this spring. Perhaps the best buy of the January window.

"The one thing young players get asked about all the time is their temperament. He has the talent to do it but young players find their temperament tested when they are trying to go to the next stage. He has that temperament. I see his career going higher and higher."

A second successive away game in the Premier League takes Chelsea to Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa.

The 8pm kick-off time is a novel one for Mauricio Pochettino's side. Still, the setting should be fresh in the memory after our impressive FA Cup fourth-round replay victory over Villa in February.

Chelsea will travel to the Midlands hoping to become the first visiting team in a decade to twice beat Villa on their own turf in the same season. And over the course of the last six matches, the form of the two sides is identical.

Both have won three in the Premier League, drawn twice, and lost just once. Both also have a plus-three goal difference in that period.

Villa have not been an opponent to crack, especially early in matches. Unai Emery's side have yet to concede at home in the opening 15 minutes of matches – a feat Chelsea have also managed – and have scored 18 first-half goals at home, the third-most in the league.

In the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, Malo Gusto's harsh dismissal proved costly for the Blues and we were beaten 1-0. However, we have won three times in a row across all competitions in Birmingham, including that FA Cup success in February.

Chelsea team news

A depleted Chelsea side suffered a painful defeat at the Emirates on Tuesday evening, but the trip to Villa Park offers Pochettino and his players the opportunity to bounce back from our heaviest league defeat since 2019.

In our FA Cup victory, Pochettino deployed Nicolas Jackson wide on the left and Noni Madueke on the right. Both proved smart decisions from the head coach as we enjoyed huge success down the flanks and Cole Palmer impressed through the middle.

Pochettino hopes to welcome Palmer back into his squad for the game. The 21-year-old missed the defeat in north London due to illness but has trained in the build-up to the game.

There are new absentees to contend with, however. Enzo Fernandez underwent surgery on a groin issue this week and will be sidelined for the rest of the campaign. Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) and Raheem Sterling (back) have also been ruled out.

Malo Gusto, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia continue to undergo their respective rehabilitation programmes and while Robert Sanchez, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Lesley Ugochukwu and Christopher Nkunku are in partial team training, they are not expected to feature.

Opposition scout: Aston Villa

Emery’s well-drilled team adopts a high defensive line, screens their backline with two physical central midfielders, and counter-attacks in numbers through quick combinations and blistering speed.

Only West Ham United and Nottingham Forest have scored more from breakaways this season, but Villa are also in the top three for set-play goals, although they have conceded from as many as they have scored (14).

Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins has scored 19 top-flight goals this season - the joint-most by a Villa player alongside Christian Benteke in 2012/13.

In the recent FA Cup meeting at Villa Park, both sides had 15 shots. Chelsea registered eight on target and Villa five, of which Djordje Petrovic saved four.

Sheffield United, Luton Town and Fulham are the only teams to have recorded more own goals than Villa this term – and they are one of three sides to have conceded just one penalty to date.

Douglas Luiz, suspended for two games after accruing ten yellow cards, is available again but Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Alex Moreno, Jacob Ramsey and Boubacar Kamara are ruled out.

The history

After Harry Halse’s winner earned Chelsea’s first-ever victory at Villa Park in October 1913, so momentous was it to beat the perennial title-chasers on their own patch that the team posed for a photo.

In contrast, as of last season, the Londoners had won seven of the past nine away trips to Villa. Several of those standout, including a 4-2 victory in March 2012 thanks to Bransilav Ivanovic’s third brace for the Blues.

The 2-1 a season later is largely remembered for Frank Lampard’s record-breaking double strike – and loan debutant Alexandre Pato netted his only Chelsea goal in the 4-0 in April 2016, after which the Midlanders were relegated.

Twin penalties by Jorginho helped secure an ultimately comfortable 3-1 win on Boxing Day 2021 while last season’s 2-0 was the Mason Mount show: the midfielder netted both, including a spectacular direct free kick.

Tightrope walked

On Tuesday night, Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson passed the cut-off point for receiving ten yellow cards in the Premier League. Neither will serve a two-match suspension if booked between now and the end of the campaign.

The Ecuadorian had to negotiate three matches after receiving his ninth caution in our dramatic win against Man United. Our Senegal striker has the all-clear after eight games without a yellow.

Europe still possible

Despite our setback at Emirates, the Blues are still in a position to clinch a European place i the top flight.

With games in hand on the sides above, Chelsea's maximum available points total is 65, the same as seventh-placed Newcastle and one win shy of the 68 available to Manchester United.

Kirsty Smith says that West Ham United women’s team know that they need to raise their performance levels when they head to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

After a disappointing 5-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, the Irons are looking to respond positively as they head on their travels again, this time to Villa Park.

Defender Smith says that the team have worked well in training in the lead-up to the contest and hopes to leave the Midlands with points.

“We know that last weekend [against Manchester City] was not our standards, and it was really disappointing on our behalf,” Smith explained.

“At the same time, it's a chance to put it right this weekend and we've prepared well and worked hard this week to make sure that we're at our best at the weekend. Training this week has been really good, and we all know that we need to raise the levels and perform a lot better.”

Rehanne Skinner’s side made life difficult for themselves up in Manchester, finding themselves two goals down with only four minutes gone in the game, as they struggled to deal with the title challengers in the opening exchanges.

Smith says that the start of the game is something that the whole group need to learn from and take into the final three games of the season, which will also see them face Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur as the 2023/24 season reaches its conclusion.

“It's obviously a learning curve, and we know we can't start games like we did against City. We need to be at our best every game no matter who we're playing, and I think we need to set the standards of how we want to be as a team.

“We just need to get together, put things right and obviously make sure that we are at our best at the weekend.”

I think a lot of the results this season against some of the teams around us hasn't reflected our performance levels

Kirsty Smith

The Irons currently sit in 11th position in the standings in the Barclays Women’s Super League, and know that maximum points from the game against Villa would pull them to within a point of Leicester City heading into the clash next weekend at Chigwell Construction Stadium should the Foxes fail to get points from their fixture against Manchester United.

Smith wants the team to grasp the opportunity she feels they have to end the season strongly and ultimately finish higher in the table.

“There's opportunity there for us, and we want to grasp that. We want to make sure we get maximum points out these last three games and put ourselves in the best position.

“I think a lot of the results this season against some of the teams around us hasn't reflected our performance levels. We need to make sure that we get those right and then I believe the points will follow.

“There’s been times where that hasn’t happened this season, we’ve deserved more points from some the games. We’ve shown we can compete against the very best in the league, and we need to find those levels again in the final three matches,” Smith concluded.