Mark Viduka scored Middlesbrough's first Premiership goals of the season as the visitors swept aside Birmingham 3-0 at St Andrews.

The Australian striker confirmed his return to fitness by giving Boro a 2-0 half-time lead while Franck Queudrue added a third on 71 minutes.

It was the Teessiders' first win away to Blues in almost 27 years, and also marked City's 50th League defeat under Steve Bruce.

Mark Schwarzer saved well from Nicky Butt's powerful header before Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink saw his shot from a narrow angle go inches wide.

Then Viduka, making only his second start since suffering hamstring and back injuries against Blues on Boxing Day, netted from eight yards out in the 14th minute.

Michael Reiziger played the ball into the path of James Morrison on the right side of the penalty area and his low cross was met by Viduka, who drilled a rising shot into the roof of the net for Boro's first goal in over four hours of Premiership football.

Matthew Upson's saving tackle prevented Viduka from doubling Boro's lead seven minutes later but the burly Australian scored a stunning individual goal on the stroke of half-time after seizing onto a throw from Queudrue.

Viduka turned back inside past Kenny Cunningham and sent a swerving shot past Maik Taylor into the roof of the net.

With 70 minutes gone, Boro made virtually sure of victory when Queudrue made a run to the far post to meet an inswinging free-kick from Stewart Downing which he swept home.

A Richard Hughes own goal helped Aston Villa gain a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth - despite the visitors having 10 men for 80 minutes of the contest.

A lively start at Fratton Park got even tastier when Nolberto Solano was sent off after just 10 minutes for elbowing Hughes to leave Villa down to 10 men.

But from the free-kick for Hughes' initial foul, the Pompey midfielder headed firmly past his own goalkeeper Sander Westerveld to give Villa the lead.

Pompey piled on the pressure in search of a leveller and after seeing a penalty claim waved away, they drew level when LuaLua cut in from the left and curled an unstoppable shot beyond Thomas Sorensen into the far corner.

Pompey enjoyed the better of the chances in the second period with Gary O'Neil, LuaLua and Hughes all going close, but they couldn't find a way through and it will be Villa who will be the happier of the two sides.

Goals from Darius Vassell and Trevor Sinclair sent Manchester City top of the Premiership after they held on to claim a 2-1 win at Sunderland.

After a lively start, Vassell gave the visitors the lead when he out-stripped the Sunderland defence and slid the ball expertly past Kelvin Davis with the outside of his right foot for his first City goal.

Sunderland spurned several chances to equalise, with Le Tallec the chief culprit, and they found themselves 2-0 down when Sinclair linked up well with Andy Cole to curl a fine strike around Davis into the far corner.

However, with four minutes to go to the interval, Le Tallec headed home from Dean Whitehead's 41st-minute corner to give the Black Cats hope.

Sunderland continued to press in the second period and Le Tallec headed just over early on, while Stephen Elliott volleyed just wide.

However, try as they might they could not find an equaliser and halt their run of 18 consecutive defeats in the Premiership.