Aston Villa 5-1 Birmingham: With both sides having plenty to play for, the second city derby gets under way at Villa Park

Norwegian striker John Carew (right) attempts to shrug off City's Radhi Jaidi as the hosts look for the opening goal

It arrives in the 28th minute when Ashley Young's half-volley from 18 yards beats Maik Taylor to give Villa the lead

They have another before half-time when Mehdi Nafti fouls Carew who then rises the highest to head home from the resulting free-kick

The Blues' performance leaves boss Alex McLeish with a lot to say and do at the interval if his side are to get anything out of the match

Sadly for him, Birmingham concede a third soon after the break when Carew taps home after being picked out by Gareth Barry

The game looks well and truly over when Young breezes through City's defence to net the fourth 10 minutes later

With some Blues fans already on the way home, those that remain have something to cheer when Mikael Forssell reduces the defecit

Villa have the last word, though, when Gabriel Agbonlahor fires home to complete the rout after a poor clearance by Liam Ridgewell

Newcastle 2-0 Sunderland: In the second derby of the day, at St James' Park, Michael Owen heads the Magpies into an early lead

Obafemi Martins applies further pressure to Sunderland's defence as Newcastle dominate first-half possession

A far from convincing Owen penalty just before the break doubles the hosts' lead after Danny Higginbotham's handball gives him the chance

Having recently scored the winner against West Ham, Andy Reid tries his luck for the Mackems but it flies over the bar

No further goals materialise as Kevin Keegan's side complete a comfortable win to move level on points with Tottenham in 12th

Man City 3-1 Portsmouth: Sven-Goran Eriksson's team get off to a good start when Darius Vassell scores a 10th-minute opener

City find themselves 2-0 up within 15 minutes when Martin Petrov's toe-poke deflects off Sol Campbell past a wrong-footed David James

John Utaka puts Pompey back in it when the hosts' defence mistakenly stop for offside and his goal is allowed to stand

However, with the break looming, Hermann Hreidarsson is adjudged by Andre Marriner to have professionally fouled Vassell and is sent off

The final goal of the game goes the way of City when former Portsmouth striker Benjani turns Sylvain Distin before beating James

The result dents Harry Redknapp's hopes of finishing fifth but keeps Man City's slim hopes of a Uefa Cup place alive