Source: PA
Delfouneso the Villa hero
Aston Villa substitute Nathan Delfouneso scored with his first touch to keep Martin O'Neill's European hopes alive with a well-deserved 2-1 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
David James saved John Carew's penalty before the break after the Norwegian had restored parity following Michael Brown's early opener.
The game looked to be heading towards stalemate but Delfouneso tapped home Emile Heskey's flick on to move Villa above Liverpool into sixth place in the Barclays Premier League.
Fratton Park went into uproar in the ninth minute when Anthony Vanden Borre raced down the right, out-muscled Stephen Warnock, and laid the ball off to Brown who carefully placed the ball past Brad Friedel to put Pompey 1-0 up.
James then reacted well to deny Stewart Downing and Carew but the Norwegian beat the England stopper minutes later to draw Pompey level soon after. Marc Wilson's attempts play Carew offside from Warnock's through-ball failed miserably and the Villa striker raced through before cutting back across the defender to beat James.
O'Neill threw on Delfouneso for Agbonlahor and that proved to be a masterstroke as he put Villa ahead with his first touch of the game. Milner crossed for Heskey, who headed the ball on before his fellow substitute tapped home from five yards to pick up his first league goal with eight minutes left.
