Five-star City rout Birmingham to consolidate fourth

Manchester City consolidated fourth place in the Premier League as two goals apiece from Nedum Onuoha and Emmanuel Adebayor inspired a 5-1 demolition of Birmingham here on Sunday.

Roberto Mancini’s side are now four points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, who still have to travel to Eastlands, thanks to a devastating spell of three goals in five minutes at the end of the first half.

Carlos Tevez’s penalty put City in front and Onuoha added a second, with Adebayor touching in a third after Cameron Jerome had pulled one back.

Onuoha scored a fourth midway through the second half before Adebayor complete the hammering with a fifth goal late on for City, who host bitter rivals Manchester United next weekend.

There was early disruption for City, with French midfielder Patrick Vieira picking up a knee injury in the warm up and having to be replaced by Nigel De Jong.

But the hosts were quickly into their stride as De Jong lifted a shot well over the bar and Adebayor hit the side-netting after he was sent clear by Tevez.

Tevez combined with Adebayor once again but fired his shot well off target before Adebayor dragged just wide after latching on to Gareth Barry’s header.

City had the visitors pinned in their own half for long stages without working Maik Taylor, who took the place of on-loan City goalkeeper Joe Hart in the Birmingham goal.

But in the 38th minute, City were given a chance to take the lead from the penalty spot.

Adam Johnson’s pass picked out Adebayor and the Togo striker burst into the area, beating Roger Johnson before going down under Scott Dann’s tackle.

Johnson was booked for his protests but Tevez made no mistake, sending Taylor the wrong way with a powerful penalty.

Just a couple of minutes later, City doubled their advantage when Adam Johnson whipped over a corner from the left and Onuoha shrugged off Lee Bowyer’s challenge to score with a diving header.

Three minutes before the interval, Birmingham hit back with a well-worked goal of their own.

Liam Ridgewell picked out James McFadden and the Scotland forward clipped into the area for Jerome to head in, although the Birmingham striker looked to have been in an offside position.

A minute after that City restored their lead with a wonderful passing move.

Javier Garrido sent Craig Bellamy clear and, with Taylor advancing, the Welshman squared the ball for Adeabyor to touch it over the line.

Tevez could have scored a fourth for City when he raced onto Bellamy’s charge-down only to be denied by Taylor.

City goalkeeper Shay Given was forced into a good save hen he pulled off a low block from Kevin Fahey.

Tevez brought a wonderful one-handed save from Taylor with a curling free kick. And the Argentina striker then had a low effort pushed away by Taylor before Bellamy shot well wide of goal.

But Onuoha wrapped the game up with his second goal with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The defender attempted to pass to Adebayor but the Togo forward made a different run and Onuoha ran on to the ball before shooting into the corner of Taylor’s net.

Adebayor completed a comprehensive victory when he raced onto a long clearance and calmly guided the ball past Taylor in the 88th minute.