Aston Villa secured local bragging rights as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over neighbours Birmingham.

Martin O'Neill's side prove too strong for Blues

Aston Villa secured local bragging rights in the second city derby as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over neighbours Birmingham. John Carew and Ashley Young both grabbed a brace, while Gabriel Agbonlahor rounded the scoring off for the Villains. Mikael Forssell bagged Birmingham's consolation, but the Blues are now in serious danger at the foot of the table and must improve dramatically in the coming weeks if they are to maintain their Premier League status. They had begun brightly and made most of the early running, but it did not take the home side long to stamp their authority on proceedings. With clear cut opportunities few and far between, both sides were restricted to long-range efforts for much of the opening exchanges. However, with 28 minutes on the clock Young brought the game to life when he benefited from Olof Mellberg's mishit pass to smash a low volley into the bottom corner. Martin O'Neill's side were now firmly on top and doubled their advantage three minutes before the break when Carew was allowed to rise unchallenged in the Birmingham box to flick a smart header past a stranded Maik Taylor. Nine minutes into the second half and Carew made it three when he was presented with an open goal following good work down the right by Gareth Barry. The floodgates had really opened now and on 63 minutes Young weaved his way past some statuesque Birmingham defending to drill home a fourth. Forssell then added some respectability to the scoreline when he drilled a snap shot past Scott Carson three minutes later, but it would be Villa who had the last laugh. With 12 minutes remaining Agbonlahor grabbed a fifth when he was allowed far too much time and space on the edge of the box and scuffed a tame effort under the hapless Taylor.

Ascendancy

The visitors started brightly and David Murphy's first-time shot looked to be finger-tipped over the bar by Scott Carson only for referee Mark Clattenburg to award a goal-kick. But Villa were soon in the ascendancy and Carew was just off target with a glancing header from a corner by Young. Barry drilled a 20-yard shot just wide after Agbonlahor had laid the ball back into his path and Blues keeper Maik Taylor tipped aside a curling free-kick from the player linked this week with a summer move to Liverpool. Villa were now in the ascendancy and Muamba was fortunate to escape without a booking for a late touch-line challenge on Barry. Taylor palmed away an inswinging free-kick from Young at full stretch as the visitors were penned in their home half. Taylor failed to hold on to a stinging 25-yard drive from the influential Petrov but Murphy was first to react to the rebound and hacked the ball clear.

Retaliate

But it came as no surprise when Young broke the deadlock with a stunning goal after 28 minutes - his seventh of the current campaign. Barry made the run into the Blues box and saw his low cross half cleared but Olof Mellberg managed to clip the ball back across the box and Young struck with a superb volley from 20 yards out which flew past Taylor. Birmingham tried to retaliate and Nafti squandered a good chance to put them back on level terms. The perseverance of the Tunisian international enabled him to shake off two challenges and find himself 10 yards out but he could not keep his shot down. Villa were soon back on the offensive and a first time