Ashley Young and John Carew scored a brace as Aston Villa earned a 5-1 win over Birmingham City at Villa Park.
Martin O'Neill's free-scoring side - who have now netted 15 goals in their last three matches - were simply too good for their neighbours, who remain stranded in the bottom three, one point adrift of 17th-placed Reading.
The hosts made a bright start with Stiliyan Petrov arrowing a shot just wide, while David Murphy and Mikel Forssell tried their luck at the other end.
Gareth Barry then warmed the hands of Maik Taylor with a stinging free-kick, before Villa's pressure eventually paid off when Young wrapped his foot around the ball to bury an 18-yard volley beyond Taylor after 28 minutes.
equalised immediately
Blues could have equalised immediately when Mehdi Nafti juggled his way through the defence but fired over the bar.
And only a fine save from Taylor prevented Villa doubling their lead after Barry cut in from the left and curled a right-footed effort towards the corner.
But Villa did extend their lead three minutes before the interval when Young's free-kick picked out Carew and the Norwegian flicked a header past Taylor.
Villa started the second period on the attack once again with Carew steering a header just wide. But he did not have long to wait for his second when Barry got on the wrong side of Liam Ridgewell and crossed for the striker to tap home from six yards after 53 minutes.
hesitant defending
Blues should have found a way back into the match when James McFadden steered a free header wide from 12 yards following a deep right-wing cross.
And with Blues pushing forward, Young claimed his second of the match after 63 minutes, following up after Taylor had saved with his legs to fire home from eight yards after the diminutive forward had cut in from the touchline.
Birmingham did get themselves on the scoresheet three minutes later when McFadden played in Forssell and the Finn slotted home.
However, any hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Gabriel Agbonlahor made the most of hesitant defending to fire low past Taylor in the 78th minute to keep Villa in the hunt for a UEFA Cup place.
