Five-star City routs Birmingham

MANCHESTER: 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 is now four points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, which still has 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, which hosts bitter-rival Manchester United next weekend. Tevez combined with Adebayor but fired his shot well off target before Adebayor dragged just wide after latching on to Gareth Barry's header. City had the visitor pinned in its 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 was 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.