Aston Villa eased to their seventh straight league win as they climbed to second in the Championship with a deserved derby triumph over Birmingham City.

Albert Adomah put Villa ahead on the hour, steering home his 13th league goal of season from 15 yards.

Conor Hourihane's superb dipping left-foot volley then sealed victory.

Cheikh Ndoye's stoppage time red card for a second bookable offence further marred Blues' day.

The Senegal midfielder could have been dismissed earlier but he escaped punishment for a challenge on Jack Grealish, before being booked in the second half when he again brought down the Villa winger.

He was finally sent off after being part of a late kerfuffle in the dying seconds.

Woodwork saves both sides

Blues' best chances came before the break when they hit the post through Sam Gallagher and they were again denied by the woodwork when Marc Roberts' late header came back off the bar.

But, in a week marred by the loss of his father, Steve Bruce's Villa were much the better side against his former club and hit the woodwork three times, the best effort from Scott Hogan.

For Steve Cotterill's Blues, who have looked a much improved side of late, it was only their second league defeat in eight games, but they remain just two points clear of trouble.

Villa, by contrast, are now into the automatic promotion places - one point clear of Gary Rowett's Derby, but 12 behind leaders Wolves.