LONDON, April 20: Aston Villa thrashed local rivals Birmingham City 5-1 on Sunday to take their goal tally to 15 in their last three Premier League games.

John Carew and Ashley Young both scored twice for Villa to leave City stuck in the relegation zone with three matches left to save themselves.

Sunderland are still not safe after losing 2-0 at Newcastle United in the day’s second derby, Michael Owen scoring twice for Kevin Keegan’s resurgent side at St James’ Park.

Birmingham are third from bottom with 31 points, one behind Reading who sit just above the drop zone. Sunderland have 36.

Young fired Villa in front after 29 minutes and it was one-way traffic from then on.

His free kick was headed in by Carew just before halftime and the Norwegian made it 3-0 early in the second half. The impressive Young made it 4-0 and although Mikael Forssell pulled one back, Gabriel Agbonlahor completed the rout.

Villa’s victory put them three points behind fifth-placed Everton and raised their hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Cup.

Owen needed just four minutes to head Newcastle in front and he doubled the advantage from the penalty spot before halftime to make it six goals in six games for the England striker.

Sunderland improved after the break without really threatening a comeback.

FA Cup finalists Portsmouth had the chance to close the gap on Everton to one point if they won at Manchester City later.

Sunday’s results:

Newcastle United 2 Sunderland 0

Aston Villa 5 Birmingham City 1

Played on Saturday

Blackburn Rovers 1 Manchester United 1

Fulham 0 Liverpool 2

Middlesbrough 0 Bolton Wanderers 1

West Ham United 2 Derby County 1

Wigan Athletic 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Arsenal 2 Reading 0

—Agencies