Derby County 0 Aston Villa 6

Rampant Villa kept their slim European hopes alive by clinching the Premier League's biggest away win of the season at Derby today.

Their 6-0 victory at Pride Park eclipsed West Ham's 5-0 success at the same venue on November 10.

A 50-yard wonder goal from Bulgarian Syiliyan Petrov will live long in the memory and provided the highlight of Villa's sixth League away win of the campaign after he punished a poor goal kick from keeper Roy Carroll with a stunning volley from just over the half-way line.

Villa were already coasting by then after Ashley Young embarrassed Carroll with a 40-yard free-kick that sailed through the keeper's hands under pressure from Olof Mellberg on 25 minutes.

A minute later it was 2-0 when striker John Carew struck his 10th of the season, drilling home from just outside the edge of the area after yet another fumble from Carroll following a cross from Gareth Barry.

Then came Petrov's moment of glory that stunned Pride Park for his first goal of a season of differing fortunes for the Bulgarian.

Barry made it 4-0 when he tapped into an empty net for his eighth of the season and third in two games after Carroll could only parry Agbonlahor's angled shot.

Robbie Savage then had Villa keeper Scott Carson flying through the air to deny him a goal on his 500th club appearance, but there was no stopping Villa.

Agbonlahor made it 5-0 on 76 minutes with his ninth of the season, an angled right foot finish off the foot of the post after substitute Marlon Harewood flicked on a goal kick.

And after fellow sub Patrik Berger curled just wide, the former Liverpool midfielder threaded through Harewood for number six – and the striker's sixth goal of the season five minutes from time. It was Villa's biggest away win since November, 1971.