Young heart runs free

MARTIN O’NEILL raised more than a few eyebrows when he purchased Ashley Young for £9 million (€11.4m) just over a year ago, but the doubters have suddenly fallen silent.

The Aston Villa manager could probably raise more than double that by cashing in on his talented tyro this summer, although the Ulsterman will not entertain selling his prize asset on the evidence of the havoc he wreaked to sentence Birmingham City to their heaviest league derby defeat in 48 years.

Young must now be a shoe-in for Fabio Cappello’s squad for the summer games against America and Trinidad after the latest audition he gave for the watching England manager at Villa Park. He dismantled Alex McLeish’s side to shove them closer to relegation from the Premier League, as Birmingham suffered their fourth successive reversal and most embarrassing derby loss.

Capello cannot have failed to be impressed as Young scored twice to take his total for the season to eight, while also playing a part in both goals for John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Still in the bottom three and with Fulham, Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers still to play, McLeish has an uphill task to haul his team clear of the drop zone.

From the moment Young swept in a perfectly executed first-time shot from 15 yards, the writing was on the wall, given Birmingham’s dismal record away from St Andrews. It is now just two points from their last 10 fixtures.

Carew’s glancing header just before half-time from Young’s free-kick began a damage limitation exercise for Birmingham which proved beyond them.

“I feel terrible. The players feel terrible and we all feel as bad as the supporters do. Villa were just a better side and they have a different agenda to us,” said McLeish.

Carew tapped in for a third and his 12th goal of the season, but Birmingham simply could not handle Young.

Young’s solo effort and another fine finish from Agbonlahor completed Birmingham’s misery and gave a healthy look to Villa’s goal difference ahead of their vital clash with Everton next week. The UEFA Cup spot could hinge on the outcome.

The only crumb of comfort for McLeish was substitute Mikael Forssell’s goal and Mauro Zarate’s kick of a pitch-side microphone which demonstrated accurately the Argentine striker’s frustrations at his own lack of impact.

“If all the players are not frustrated with that, then we are in trouble,” said McLeish.

DID YOU KNOW? This was Villa’s biggest league derby win since beating Birmingham 6-2 at Villa Park in 1960.

ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Carson 6, Mellberg 6 (Harewood 85, 5), Laursen 7, Knight 6, Bouma 6, Petrov 7, Reo-Coker 7, Barry 8, Agbonlahor 6, Carew 8, Young 9. Subs Not Used: Routledge, Berger, Taylor, Salifou.

BIRMINGHAM (4-4-2): Maik Taylor 6, Kelly 5, Jaidi 5, Ridgewell 4, Murphy 5, Jerome 4 (Kapo 59, 5), Muamba 5, Nafti 4, McSheffrey 4, Zarate 4 (Forssell 59, 6), McFadden 4.

Subs Not Used: Doyle, O’Connor, Parnaby.

REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear) 7: Will not have had many easier games all season. There was no niggle at all, because Birmingham simply never got near their fierce rivals.

MATCH RATING: *** A totally one-sided contest and nothing like a derby. Villa were superior in every aspect and Birmingham should be embarrassed to call themselves rivals after this.