Blues raced into a two-goal lead early on and put in an excellent first half performance, before defending doggedly in the second half to earn a vital three points - plus yet more bragging rights for their fans.
Over the week leading up to this game Steve Bruce had decided to adopt a harsher approach on his underperforming team, and as such plenty of changes were expected. Mario Melchiot's injury meant that Olivier Tebily made his first start of the season at right back, whilst Stan Lazaridis returned from injury at left-back. In the middle of the park Darren Carter - only just back from his loan spell at Sunderland - was thrown in alongside Robbie Savage, whilst Clinton Morrison returned to partner Emile Heskey up front.
With Villa unbeaten at home all season, conceding just four goals there, and Blues with just one away victory under their belts since they won at Leicester City about 12 months ago, most people predicted a home win. Unfortunately most people forgot that one side relish these games, whilst the other side fear them and it shows.
Blues seem to have the knack for knowing exactly what's required in these clashes, and this looked no exception from the off. Blues were the more composed team from the first whistle. Indeed, after just 9 minutes Blues were ahead. Heskey won a flick on and steered the ball to Morrison. The Irish striker hit a first time half volley, which looked well struck, but nothing to trouble the normally reliable Thomas Sorensen. However, somehow Sorensen let the ball past him and into the back of the net in front of the Holte End. Cue ecstatic celebrations from Blues players, management and fans alike.
Gavin McCann fired high and wide with a left foot drive shortly after, but after just 18 minutes it was 2-0 to Blues thanks to a superb team goal. Tebily played a good long ball to Morrison who held off a challenge and laid the ball off to Damien Johnson. Johnson outpaced J'Lloyd Samuel and crossed low for David Dunn to slot the ball home first time and stun the Villa fans, who should really be used to being stunned by Blues goals by now.
The Villa side were pretty stunned too, with everybody's favourite centre-half Olof Mellberg struggling to get to grips with Heskey who was awesome all afternoon. Savage was also very much back to his best in midfield, looking like his old self with his aggressive tackling and ball chasing.
The only time Villa seemed to raise anything like a passing interest in the game during the first half was when they objected to Johnson kicking the ball - weird, huh? Gareth Barry had obviously tired himself out so much with his mediocrity that he decided to stop and sit on the ball. Johnson, seeing the ball there, tried to kick it clear. Nothing wrong with that, is there? Well, the Villa players thought so and Barry jumped up to go for Johnson, whilst Mellberg ran 50 yards to get involved, clearly to share some of his views with people. The fact that his views always leave him with egg on his face seems irrelevant to the Swede who is probably the key motivation for Blues in any of these games, if not by spouting off, then just by being Olof Mellberg.
Blues could have led 5-0 at half time, and that's no exageration. Dunn - who was struggling when the ball was deeper - was getting in behind the Villa defence with ease, and twice went close, and just moments before the interval Heskey hit the post with an effort from a tight angle.
In recent weeks - particularly at Blackburn and at home to Norwich - Blues have been excellent for a half, but thrown the game away in the second period. There were fears that the same might happen here as Blues struggled straight after the break, allowing Villa to raise their game, and their fans to find their whining voices.
Blues did begin to settle, however, and regained their composure enough to defend well - Matthew Upson in particular was immense. Villa for all their possession weren't creating any real chances, and the only hope they had was by cheating. Barry twice found the back of the net, but once was offside and once punched the ball in.
Blues took off Dunn who began to struggle and was treading a fine line with his namesake referee, Steve, who had booked him and given him a final warning. Tebily too began to push his luck with one or two mistimed challenges, but that's Tebily for you.
Villa pressed, but Blues coped, and that was about that for the second half until the very dying stages. As time was nearly up substitute Darren Anderton (on for Morrison) shot straight at Sorensen - who managed to hold the ball - when clean through. Then moments later, into stoppage time, Barry netted for the third time in the afternoon, but legally on this occasion, with a decent enough finish.
The 12,000 or so Villa fans left in the stadium at this point clearly sensed that it may be they who, like Blues last season, would nick a 94th minute equaliser. This didn't happen though, as unlike Villa's bottlers last season, Blues held firm for the remaining couple of minutes to record a fine win, and crucially earn three important points.
I have been saying for weeks that Blues have to 'get back to basics' and play 4-4-2. They did this, but also returned to the Blues of last season and the season before, in scrapping, battling and chasing everything. The spine of the team, in Upson, Savage and Heskey were awesome, with the likes of Cunningham, Johnson and Morrison all putting in fine performances too.
This should be a turning point in the season, and it will be a shame if Blues can't capitalise. Another similar team selection and performance next week should be far too good for the Albion, and hopefully then Blues can head into the festive period on a high, and start to pick up a few more points. They need to build on this though, and not see this as a one-off. There were a lot of positives to take out of this, but any return to experimental formations or lacklustre performances and they'll be back down to earth with a bang. Hopefully this win has convinced the powers that be that 4-4-2 and the 'typical Blues' approach is the way to go to be successful in games.
So, just for the record, that's five Second City derbies since Blues were promoted, with Blues winning three and drawing the other two, scoring nine goals in the process, and conceding just three. Can't complain at that, really. Plus Blues showed some compassion for their most unfortunate rivals by not even using Dwight Yorke from the bench, just to really rub it in. Shame that.