Birmingham City completed an explosive Second City double over nine-man Aston Villa thanks to goals from Stan Lazaridis and Geoff Horsfield.

The home side had Dion Dublin sent off five minutes into the second half for head-butting Robbie Savage and then Joey Gudjonsson was given his marching orders after a two-footed lunge earned him a second booking.

Dublin was clearly incensed by something and tried to continue his run-in with Savage before being shepherded away to the dressing room by coach Stuart Gray.

By the time Gudjonsson was dismissed the game was over as a contest as Blues followed up their 3-0 home win in September with another victory which lifts them six points clear of the relegation zone.

Then the frustration of the home fans turned on chairman Doug Ellis with cries of 'we want Ellis out' in the final stages of the game.

Blues are now only three points behind Villa and it was the perfect way for Blues co-owner David Sullivan to celebrate his 10th anniversary of taking charge at St Andrews.

Unsurprisingly the tackles came flying in thick and fast in the opening phase of the game from both sides in what was a white-hot atmosphere.

Savage was spoken to by referee Mark Halsey after a high challenge on Gudjonsson.

Villa's veteran full-back Alan Wright tried his luck from 30 yards out with a low drive which flew across goal with no-one able to apply the finishing touch.

But the first decent opening of the game fell to Blues after 20 minutes - and striker Clinton Morrison - on target in his side's 3-0 win at St Andrews in September - will feel he should have done better.

The Republic of Ireland international got in front of Villa skipper Olof Mellberg at the near post to meet a cross from midfielder Damien Johnson but he sent his header over the bar.

The play was showing signs of settling down after the early frantic skirmishes and Villa striker Darius Vassell lofted a shot across the face of goal after the ball fell to him following a challenge by Jamie Clapham on Dublin.

Then Lee Hendrie, a Birmingham City schoolboy before he joined Villa, was only just wide with a dipping 25 yard volley.

Blues central defender Kenny Cunningham became the first player to be yellow-carded after 35 minutes for a touch-line challenge on Gareth Barry.

Gudjonsson was clearly adopting a shoot on sight policy but two efforts from 40 and 35 yards respectively were well wide of Vaesen's goal and it was the same outcome when he tried his luck with a freekick.

It was 41 minutes before the first save of note saw Peter Enckelman tip over a 25 yard effort from Blues striker Christophe Dugarry after he had turned quickly following a throw from Jeff Kenna.

But then the game boiled over with the Dublin sending-off after he had made an initial challenge on Savage and then lost all control to leave Halsey no choice but to hand out an instant red card.

Then the game was turned on its head with Blues scoring twice in three minutes to put the game out of Blues reach.

First in the the 73rd minute Lazaridis was first to react to a cross from Kenna and made no mistake with a close range header.

Then substitute Geoff Horsfield, who had replaced Lazaridis immediately after his goal, chased a headed back pass from Jlloyd Samuel and nicked the ball away from Enckelman before knocking it into an empty net.

Villa were now in disarray and in the 80th minute Gudjonnson added to their misery with his second yellow card for a challenge on Matthew Upson.

Villa fans tried to confront the 3,000 Blues contingent but were held back by a strong police and stewards contingent.

However two fans did get onto the pitch, one of them managing to approach Savage before being apprehended by stewards.

Blues boss Steve Bruce sensibly substituted Savage in the closing minutes in a bid to calm the situation.

Teams

Aston Villa: Enckelman, Samuel, Johnsen, Mellberg, Wright (Crouch 90), Gudjonsson, Hendrie, Barry, Vassell, Dublin, Moore (Hadji 45).

Subs Not Used: Hitzlsperger, Postma, Edwards.

Sent Off: Dublin (51), Gudjonsson (81).

Booked: Gudjonsson.

Birmingham: Vaesen, Kenna, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham, Damien Johnson, Savage (Carter 83), Clemence, Lazaridis (Devlin 75), Dugarry, Morrison (Horsfield 72).

Subs Not Used: Bennett, John.

Booked: Cunningham, Devlin.

Goals: Lazaridis 74, Horsfield 77.

Att: 42,602

Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).