Aston Villa have dealt a major blow to Birmingham City's hopes of Premiership survival with a 3-1 victory on Easter Sunday.
Two goals from Milan Baros and a spectacular volley from Gary Cahill meant Villa took the bragging rights from the second city derby at Villa Park.
Chris Sutton's first-half strike for Blues proved a mere consolation, as Birmingham's hopes of avoiding relegation may have taken a pivotal setback with this result.
Birmingham's struggles with injuries continued in the warm-up, as centre back Matthew Upson was carried off with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon, as he was preparing for his first start in 12 games.
Instead, the former Arsenal man had to be replaced by Martin Taylor in Steve Bruce's backline, while David Dun and Nicky Butt replaced the injured pair of Jiri Jarosik and Muzzy Izzet in midfield.
Villa boss David O'Leary brought back on-loan winger James Milner into his starting XI after missing the last six matches with a virus, having replaced the injured Lee Hendrie on the right side of midfield.
Fit-again midfielder Gareth Barry came in for youngster Gabriel Agbonlahor, while Jlloyd Samuel replaced the injured Wilfred Bouma at left back.
A tense and passionate atmosphere welcomed both sets of players in the noon-hour kick-off at Villa Park, with Butt having the first chance for Birmingham with a fierce drive right at Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
In fact, Blues looked the brighter side in the opening exchanges, but as their luck has been like most of this season, Villa took the lead with their first opportunity on goal.
Aaron Hughes took a pass from Milner on the right-hand side of Birmingham's box before swinging in a cross that eluded two sets of players and reached an unmarked Baros at the far post.
The former Liverpool striker made no mistake with the opportunity and beat Blues goalkeeper Maik Taylor with aplomb for a 1-0 lead - much to the delight of Villa supporters.
Despite falling behind, Birmingham went down the other end moments later and nearly fashioned an equaliser from a corner on the left, as Martin Taylor forced Milner to clear his shot off the goal line.
The injury bug that forced Upson to miss out on Sunday forced team-mate David Dunn to be substituted for striker Mikael Forssell on 17 minutes, while Craig Gardner replaced Villa midfielder Steven Davis, who was forced to limp off with a leg injury.
Moments after Villa's substitution, Blues restored parity when the home side failed to deal with Kenny Cunningham's free kick into the Villa box.
Sutton and Heskey each got a flick to the loose ball in the box before it fell at the feet of the former Blackburn Rovers and Celtic striker, who powered a left-footed strike past Sorensen for 1-1.
The equaliser brought a more subdued spell of play from both sides, with Baros stinging the hands of Maik Taylor with a close-range shot, while Heskey failed to bother Sorensen with a looping header and Sutton was wayward with an effort from the edge of Villa's box.
The half ended with Birmingham creating the last chance before the break, as Jermaine Pennant's cross from the right was flicked on by Sutton before being headed just wide of Sorensen's post by Heskey.
The second half began with Villa starting the brightest and Milner forcing Maik Taylor into an assured save from his curling right-footed free kick.
Seconds later, Villa struck on the break and Kevin Phillips set up substitute Gardner with a excellent goalscoring chance, but the youngster saw his shot flash across the face of Birmingham's goal.
Villa's early second-half endeavour proved an omen, as the home side regained the lead with a spectacular first goal from youngster Cahill.
Birmingham failed to deal with a ball into their box and after Cunningham made a vital block to Phillips's shot, the loose ball was flicked on by the former Sunderland and Southampton striker into the path of Cahill.
From a tight angle, the youngster leaped in the air and made sublime contact with his right foot to beat a stunned Maik Taylor and send the Villa fans into raptures.
The goal jolted Bruce's side, but they pressed on for another equaliser, though a long-range attempt from Butt flew high over Sorensen's crossbar moments later.
The Villa number one was then called on to keep his side in the lead with a fine stop to substitute Forssell's fine volley after Butt picked him out unmarked in the Villa box.
Blues then enjoyed a spell of possession, but their efforts to create a quality goalscoring chance were thwarted by resolute Villa defending on their own box.
The home side's efforts paid dividends with 12 minutes remaining, as fine interplay between Milner and substitute Juan Pablo Angel set up Baros to strike home a fine second goal for a 3-1 lead.
Forssell then tried to get Blues back into match with a long-range strike, but Sorensen was equal to his effort.
The game ended with man-of-the-match Baros forcing Maik Taylor to tip over his injury-time free kick.
The result takes Villa 10 points clear of the bottom three, while Birmingham's plight in the relegation zone looks ominous.
Two goals from Milan Baros and a spectacular volley from Gary Cahill meant Villa took the bragging rights from the second city derby at Villa Park.
Chris Sutton's first-half strike for Blues proved a mere consolation, as Birmingham's hopes of avoiding relegation may have taken a pivotal setback with this result.
Birmingham's struggles with injuries continued in the warm-up, as centre back Matthew Upson was carried off with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon, as he was preparing for his first start in 12 games.
Instead, the former Arsenal man had to be replaced by Martin Taylor in Steve Bruce's backline, while David Dun and Nicky Butt replaced the injured pair of Jiri Jarosik and Muzzy Izzet in midfield.
Villa boss David O'Leary brought back on-loan winger James Milner into his starting XI after missing the last six matches with a virus, having replaced the injured Lee Hendrie on the right side of midfield.
Fit-again midfielder Gareth Barry came in for youngster Gabriel Agbonlahor, while Jlloyd Samuel replaced the injured Wilfred Bouma at left back.
A tense and passionate atmosphere welcomed both sets of players in the noon-hour kick-off at Villa Park, with Butt having the first chance for Birmingham with a fierce drive right at Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
In fact, Blues looked the brighter side in the opening exchanges, but as their luck has been like most of this season, Villa took the lead with their first opportunity on goal.
Aaron Hughes took a pass from Milner on the right-hand side of Birmingham's box before swinging in a cross that eluded two sets of players and reached an unmarked Baros at the far post.
The former Liverpool striker made no mistake with the opportunity and beat Blues goalkeeper Maik Taylor with aplomb for a 1-0 lead - much to the delight of Villa supporters.
Despite falling behind, Birmingham went down the other end moments later and nearly fashioned an equaliser from a corner on the left, as Martin Taylor forced Milner to clear his shot off the goal line.
The injury bug that forced Upson to miss out on Sunday forced team-mate David Dunn to be substituted for striker Mikael Forssell on 17 minutes, while Craig Gardner replaced Villa midfielder Steven Davis, who was forced to limp off with a leg injury.
Moments after Villa's substitution, Blues restored parity when the home side failed to deal with Kenny Cunningham's free kick into the Villa box.
Sutton and Heskey each got a flick to the loose ball in the box before it fell at the feet of the former Blackburn Rovers and Celtic striker, who powered a left-footed strike past Sorensen for 1-1.
The equaliser brought a more subdued spell of play from both sides, with Baros stinging the hands of Maik Taylor with a close-range shot, while Heskey failed to bother Sorensen with a looping header and Sutton was wayward with an effort from the edge of Villa's box.
The half ended with Birmingham creating the last chance before the break, as Jermaine Pennant's cross from the right was flicked on by Sutton before being headed just wide of Sorensen's post by Heskey.
The second half began with Villa starting the brightest and Milner forcing Maik Taylor into an assured save from his curling right-footed free kick.
Seconds later, Villa struck on the break and Kevin Phillips set up substitute Gardner with a excellent goalscoring chance, but the youngster saw his shot flash across the face of Birmingham's goal.
Villa's early second-half endeavour proved an omen, as the home side regained the lead with a spectacular first goal from youngster Cahill.
Birmingham failed to deal with a ball into their box and after Cunningham made a vital block to Phillips's shot, the loose ball was flicked on by the former Sunderland and Southampton striker into the path of Cahill.
From a tight angle, the youngster leaped in the air and made sublime contact with his right foot to beat a stunned Maik Taylor and send the Villa fans into raptures.
The goal jolted Bruce's side, but they pressed on for another equaliser, though a long-range attempt from Butt flew high over Sorensen's crossbar moments later.
The Villa number one was then called on to keep his side in the lead with a fine stop to substitute Forssell's fine volley after Butt picked him out unmarked in the Villa box.
Blues then enjoyed a spell of possession, but their efforts to create a quality goalscoring chance were thwarted by resolute Villa defending on their own box.
The home side's efforts paid dividends with 12 minutes remaining, as fine interplay between Milner and substitute Juan Pablo Angel set up Baros to strike home a fine second goal for a 3-1 lead.
Forssell then tried to get Blues back into match with a long-range strike, but Sorensen was equal to his effort.
The game ended with man-of-the-match Baros forcing Maik Taylor to tip over his injury-time free kick.
The result takes Villa 10 points clear of the bottom three, while Birmingham's plight in the relegation zone looks ominous.
