Manchester City made it a memorable 51st birthday for boss Joe Royle with their fourth successive win to stay in the second automatic promotion spot in Division One.

The only surprise was that Royle did not have twice as many goals to celebrate as the Blues, oozing Premiership class at times, created chance after chance, especially in the first half.

Goals by Spencer Prior, Paul Dickov (two) and Mark Kennedy sent relegation-threatened Crewe tumbling to their third defeat on the trot.

City's first-half dominance could have seen them several goals in front before Prior opened the scoring with his first goal for the club in the 42nd minute.

The central defender, playing his fourth match after being signed for £500,000 from Derby County just before last month's transfer deadline, went up for City's 10th corner of the half to net their breakthrough goal.

Kennedy's flag kick was headed goalwards by Richard Jobson and Prior stooped to nod in from two yards.

It was the least City deserved after their red hot first-half performance and though Crewe came into the game more after the break the final scoreline did not flatter the Blues.

Their second goal came in the 68th minute and was created by 27-goal top scorer Shaun Goater.

His quick free kick on the touchline enabled Kevin Horlock to cross for Dickov to sidefoot in from ten yards.

It was the Scot's fourth of the season and his second in successive games after he had previously gone seven months without scoring.

Republic of Ireland international Kennedy, who had tormented the Crewe defence with his irresistible runs and dangerous crosses, got the goal he deserved in the 87th minute.

This time it was created by substitute Ian Bishop, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes when his centre-circle pass picked out Kennedy in space and the winger took the ball into the area before curling it past Crewe keeper Jason Kearton.

Dickov completed the rout in the third minute of injury time.

He played a neat one-two with Goater on the edge of the area before burying his shot beyond Kearton's reach.

It was a breathless finish to a match which City dominated from the start.

They could have gone ahead after just two minutes when a Kennedy cross skimmed off Dickov's shin and flew over the bar.

Five minutes later Kennedy's cross was laid off by Dickov for Jeff Whitley, who blasted over from six yards.

Dickov blasted one shot against the bar, Jobson had a header cleared off the line by Kenny Lunt and Kearton made acrobatic one-handed saves from Whitley and Gerard Wiekens.

Crewe's only chances were quickly smothered by City keeper Nick Weaver.

The England Under-21 international blocked David Wright's shot after 28 minutes and then raced out to dive at Mark Rivers' feet on 50 minutes.

Teams:

Man City: Weaver, Edghill, Prior, Jobson, Tiatto, Kennedy, Horlock, Wiekens (Bishop 81), J. Whitley, Goater, Dickov.

Subs Not Used: Pollock, Mills, Granville, Wright.

Booked: Jobson.

Goals: Prior 42, Dickov 68, Kennedy 86, Dickov 90.

Crewe: Kearton, S. Wright, Macauley, D. Wright, S. Smith, Lunt, Sorvel, Street, Jack, Cramb, Rivers.

Att: 32,433

Ref: P Rejer (Tipton).