Luke Moore and Patrik Berger were the goalscoring heroes as Villa won this Second City second string contest at a canter.

Moore opened the scoring just before half-time and Kevin MacDonald's men richly deserved their lead at the interval.

Villa were never really threatened in the second-half and Berger made sure of the points with a stunning strike eight minutes from time.

Villa skipper Berger met a Harewood flick on three, volleying just wide from 25 yards out.

Chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges at St Andrew's.

Harewood dragged a low shot past the post on 11 after Salifou saw a snap shot blocked on the edge of the box.

Salifou made a promising run down the right on 16, but was unable to find a team mate with his cross. Harewood was then unable to get much power behind an overhead effort.

O'Connor hit the post with a curling right-foot free kick on 18. The Scottish international was then denied by Taylor.

Harewood raced onto Osbourne's clever ball on 22, but saw his low drive blocked by keeper Doyle.

Moore then headed narrowly wide as he rose to meet a corner from Berger.

Aussie defender Lowry volleyed wide as he met a Moore flick on 26.

Harewood almost opened the scoring, rattling the post as he met a Berger pass on 29.

Queudrue sent a tame free-kick straight at Taylor on 37.

Moore opened the scoring for Villa on 43, meeting a lofted ball from Salifou, taking the ball down and slotting confidently past Doyle.

Harewood almost rounded off a superb five-man move on 49, but was unable to get his shot on target as he skipped past keeper Doyle but was forced wide.

Lowry headed narrowly over the bar as he met an inch-perfect free-kick from Berger on 53.

Lund squared for Berger a minute later and the veteran midfielder fired narrowly wide from distance.

Togo international Salifou was becoming more of an influence and just failed to find Moore with a right-wing corner on 59.

Doyle beat Moore and Harewood to Herd's header across the Birmingham box a minute later.

Herd fired high and wide on 73 as Villa looked to double the lead.

Villa substitute Albrighton headed clear as Tebily met a Dann's corner on 81.

Berger extended Villa's lead on 82 with a contender for goal of the season, sending in an angled drive from 25 yards that left Doyle stranded.

Birmingham: Doyle, Parnaby, Sadler, Tebily, Queudrue (booked 44), Howland, Johnson (booked 87), Mutch, O'Connor, Danns, Milojevic. Subs: Krysiak, Gradwell (for Howland 75), Oji, Hall, McPike (for Milojevic58).

VILLA: Taylor, Herd, Lund, Hogg, Davies, Lowry (booked 17), Salifou, Osbourne, Berger, Harewood, Moore. Subs: Mikaelsson, Bevan, Delfouneso (for Harewood 71), Clark, Albrighton (for Hogg 63).