The combative midfielder was left with blood pouring down his face as Aston Villa and rivals Birmingham played out a fiery second-city derby on Sunday afternoon.
The crimson face of Glenn Whelan said it all.
The two Championship sides could not be separated at St Andrew’s – with both missing glorious second-half opportunities to secure all three points and local bragging rights.
Glenn Whelan was left with blood pouring down his face in Aston Villa’s draw with Birmingham
The midfielder was caught by an elbow during the fiery clash at St Andrew’s on Sunday
Conor Hourihane was one of several players pelted with clappers by Birmingham fans
The Villa midfielder has to walk past the objects thrown onto the St Andrew’s pitch on Sunday
It was a game marred by off-field clashes between supporters and police with objects being thrown onto the pitch from the St Andrew’s stands.
A handful of players were hit by coins, with Ahmed Elmohamady handing one to referee Andrew Madley during the match.
For Whelan, it was elbow that did the damage. But the former Stoke midfielder was pictured on the turf, receiving support from his team-mates, surrounded by clappers launched by home supporters.
Bottles are thrown towards Hourihane as he attempts to take a corner for the away side
Police had to be involved during the game at St. Andrews between two fierce rivals
The image illustrated the combative and occasionally-unsavoury encounter that leaves Steve Bruce’s side seven points off top spot in sixth.
Birmingham, meanwhile, remain 21st – three places and five points ahead of bottom-side Bolton.
Jota wasted a glorious chance for Steve Cotterill’s side as their stuttering start to the season continued with a draw against their bitter rivals.
A pitch invader is escorted out of the ground by police after stewards tackled him
Keinan Davies smashed the bar in the 78th minute as Aston Villa drew 0-0 with their rivals
