A controversial late penalty from James Milner kept Villa’s Champions League dream alive as they claimed their sixth successive win over Birmingham.

Milner slotted home from the spot in the 83rd minute, after referee Martin Atkinson had adjudged Roger Johnson had fouled Gabby Agbonlahor inside the area.

It was harsh on Blues, who had enjoyed the better of the derby chances, after replays indicated Johnson had taken some of the ball first.

Not that that will be of concern to Villa boss Martin O’Neill and the ecstatic home support, with their team having climbed to fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham having played one extra game.

Alex McLeish’s men created the game’s first big chance on nine minutes, when Sebastian Larsson rounded goalkeeper Brad Friedel but was unable to squeeze in from a tight angle.

Inevitably, passions were running high in the cauldron atmosphere and even Blues duo Johnson and Barry Ferguson were involved in an angry exchange of words.

Stiliyan Petrov and Stewart Downing both forced smart saves from goalkeeper Joe Hart with efforts from the edge of the area.

There was a golden opportunity for Blues on 31 mintues, when Richard Dunne allowed Friedel’s throw-out to slip underneath his boot straight to Larsson but the Swede’s curling effort  failed to beat the retreating Villa keeper.

A minute later Craig Gardner forced a fine save from Friedel, with a vicious volley from the edge of the area as the game enjoyed its most exciting spell.

Then on 34 minutes Stephen Warnock’s floated ball into the box was headed back across goal by Carlos Cuellar towards James Collins, but his first-time strike was tipped over superbly by Hart.

Blues had the better of the second half and it took another brilliant save from Friedel to deny Jerome’s attempted chip, before Cuellar got the faintest of touches to deny McFadden from the rebound.

There was another close escape for O’Neill’s men seconds later, when Downing hooked Liam Ridgewell’s header off the line from the resulting corner.

Friedel was in inspired form, making yet another world-class block to deny Bowyer following a penalty box melee on 66 minutes.

While well below their best, Villa looked capable of scoring and appeared to have done just that when substitute Emile Heskey’s lobbed effort looked destined to nestle in the corner only to finish the wrong side of the post.

But Villa Park breathed a sigh of relief with seven minutes to go, when Milner kept his cool to slot down the middle from the penalty spot.

While it was delight and relief for Villa, it was fury and frustration for Blues as they were forced to endure another painful, and extremely harsh, defeat.