Peter Walton brings the game to a close with Villa running out 1-0 winners thanks to Heskey's fine strike as O'Neill's men move into third spot whilst Pompey continue to slide down the table.
90
The fourth official indicates that there will be three minutes of added on time.
87
Utaka gets one-on-one with Friedel after Knight slip but fails to get the shot away running straight at the American goalkeeper who holds the ball, Pompey fans will wonder why he didn't try a chip the on rushing goalkeeper.
85
Yellow Card
James Milner gets a yellow card after bringing down Hreidarsson who had just got the run on him.
82
Substitution
Aston Villa make another chance with Emile Heskey going off having done the damage with Nicky Shorey coming on.
79
Yellow Card
Petrov gets a yellow card after a tired lunge at Pennant who had just skipped away from the midfielder.
77
Pennant's corner is headed away by Cuellar without a blue shirt getting anywhere near the cross as Villa try to launch a counter attack but its stopped short by Distin.
76
Johnson swings in a lovely cross which drops in the middle of the goal and forces Davies to head the ball over his own crossbar.
74
Barry curls in a freekick from out on the left hand side which Davies rises to meet but can onlysend his header just over the crossbar.
73
Substitution
Second change of the game with John Utaka coming on for Nwankwo Kanu.
71
Villa launch a quick counter attack down the left and whips in a cross which Heskey turns towards goal, his effort is deflected away and on the follow up Milner's volley is a poor one sending it high and wide.
69
Red Card
Nadir Belhadj should have been sent off in the first half but is now after kicking the ball away after a decision goes against him, childish stuff from the Pompey man.
65
Substitution
Martin O'Neill makes his first change of the evening with Craig Gardner coming off and Steve Sidwell coming on as Villa go to a five man midfield.
64
Milner gets a lovely looking cross into the penalty area from the left hand side whch is just over the head of Agbonlahor as Distin heads it away.
62
From a third successive corner, this time from Belhadj where Crouch tries to meet it but a fist from Friedel does enough to put the giant striker off who heads it over.
61
Belhadj with another corner which he this time lifts to the far post where Friedel has to tip the ball over the bar for another corner or risk it dropping in.
57
Couple of good chance for Crouch, firstly from Johnson's low cross Crouch hits his shot at Knight who deflects it out to Pennant, the former Liverpool man putting another low cross back in which this time Crouch steers wide.
56
Belhadj picks the ball up ouside the box and has a shot at goal which drifts wide with Friedel watching on as Pompey begin to create a few more chances.
54
Villa win a corner after Agbonlahor's attempted cross hits Distin and goes behind, from Milner's corner Distin is there again to head the ball away from danger.
52
Second corner from Belhadj follows a similar pattern to his previous efforts, swinging it in towards the near post where Heskey is waiting to head it away.
51
Pompey win a corner which Belhadj whips into the near post which would go in if Milner doesn't block the cross at the near post to put it behind for another corner.
50
Yellow Card
Glen Johnson gets a booking after bringing down Gabriel Agbonlahor who had just got away from him.
48
Hreidarsson gets forward and produces a great cross which Kanu turns towards goal and forces a save out of Friedel.
45
Bright start by Portsmouth with a couple of dangerous crosses into the box resulting in Pennant trying his luck from a tight angle on the right hand side which Friedel easily saves.
45
Substitution
Tony Adams has made a change at the break with Younes Kaboul coming on for Sol Campbell.
Second half
Portsmouth get the second half underway and need a bit of inspiration if they are going to get back into this one as it has been pretty static so far.
Half time
Half time whistle goes after just one minute of added on time and Heskey has proven the difference after a wonderful finish from Heskey but Pompey should be down to ten men after Belhadj's horror challenge.
45
That would have been ironic after a cross from Pennant finds Belhadj whose shot is just over the crossbar from a tight angle on the left.
44
Yellow Card
Nadir Belhadj becomes the first man to go into the referee's book but he is a lucky ball after a wild swing at Milner, just a hack from Belhadj who should be off.
43
Agbonlahor leads a Villa counter attack and tries to whip in a low cross for Heskey who slides in trying to reach it but can't quite grow the extra inches needed to capitalise on the chance.
41
Long ball over the top which finds Agbonlahor through on goal but the English forward makes a real mess of the chance, trying to slide it past James but hitting it straight at the Pompey goalkeeper. Should have done a lot better.
40
Milner takes a low corner towards the near post which Heskey finds and shoots on the turn but the former Wigan man on the spin slips and puts it wide.
39
Milner finds himself in yards of space coming in towards goal on the edge of the box and drives a low shot in which James has to tip behind.
37
Pompey win another corner which Belhadji swings in but Heskey is back there doing his defensive duties with a header away at the near post.
35
Best chance of the night for Pompey after Pennant's cross to Mullins midway inside the penalty area, the new Pompey signing though blasts it just wide with a sliced effort as the Fratton Park crowd finally come alive.
34
Pompey look blunt up front as Pennant tries to work an opening on the edge of the penalty area but Villa deal with it comfortable, Curtis Davies beating his Pompey nameshake to the ball to clear.
31
Another cross into the Pompey area is headed away to the edge of the penalty area where Barry is waiting who takes it on the half volley but blazes it over the crossbar.
30
Barry gets forward down the right hand side and swings in a deep cross but its over the head of the waiting Gardner and James can claim it for Pompey.
28
Pennant swings in a corner after Crouch's deflected shot but puts too much on it and the ball is picked up by Johnson on the far side as Pompey try to recycle the ball but don't manage it.
24
Crouch tries to reply for Pompey who look a little flat since going behind but this shot is saved easily by Friedel.
20
Goal
EMILE HESKEY grabs the opening goal on his debut for Aston Villa after a long ball over the top is flicked on by Agbonlahor on the edge of the penalty area for Heskey to run onto a hammer home with his right foot.
19
From Pennant's corner Heskey heads it away but only as far as Davies who has a pop from outside the box but the skidding shot goes straight through for Friedel.
18
Finally a half chance fo Portsmouth after Pennant's shot at goal takes a deflection off a Villa player and sends it behind for a corner.
12
Very little happening in terms of chances with neither side giving an inch in the final third of the field and Villa have had to change their shape to accommodate Heskey, doesn't seem to be working so far.
8
First corner of the gamegoes to Villa after Agbonlahor's break, Milner takes the corner in towards the near post but Campvell is there to head it away.
6
Villa are very busy all over the park, hurridly closing down Pompey at every opportunity and Tony Adams side can't get out of their own half so far.
3
Barry with the first attack of the game with a freekick from midway inside the Pompey half, the Villa skipper floating it into the penalty dut Davies heads it away.
1
Bright start to the game, both sides playing at full pace right from the off and an interesting stat foryou that if Villa win 10-0 and Man Utd lose 1-0 at West Brom Villa will go top of the league.
Kickoff
Referee Peter Walton gets this clash underway with Villa knowing that a win will put them six points ahed of Arsenal in fourth spot whilst Tony Adams knows that another defeat will see his portsmouth side slide further down the table.
Awaiting Kickoff
Aston Villa XI: Friedel, Cuellar, Knight, Davies, Luke Young, Gardner, Petrov, Barry, Milner, Agbonlahor, Heskey.
Awaiting Kickoff
The big team news for Villa is that Emile Heskey makes his debut after his £3.5million move from Wigan but Marton O'Neill's men are without Ashley Young for a second game after his sending off against Sunderland.
Portsmouth hand a debut to Hayden Mullins after he completed his move to Fratton Park on Monday as under pressure Tony Adams make a couple of changes to the side that lost at home to Swansea.
Portsmouth
Aston Villa
Full time
Peter Walton brings the game to a close with Villa running out 1-0 winners thanks to Heskey's fine strike as O'Neill's men move into third spot whilst Pompey continue to slide down the table.
The fourth official indicates that there will be three minutes of added on time.
Utaka gets one-on-one with Friedel after Knight slip but fails to get the shot away running straight at the American goalkeeper who holds the ball, Pompey fans will wonder why he didn't try a chip the on rushing goalkeeper.
Yellow Card
James Milner gets a yellow card after bringing down Hreidarsson who had just got the run on him.
Substitution
Aston Villa make another chance with Emile Heskey going off having done the damage with Nicky Shorey coming on.
Yellow Card
Petrov gets a yellow card after a tired lunge at Pennant who had just skipped away from the midfielder.
Pennant's corner is headed away by Cuellar without a blue shirt getting anywhere near the cross as Villa try to launch a counter attack but its stopped short by Distin.
Johnson swings in a lovely cross which drops in the middle of the goal and forces Davies to head the ball over his own crossbar.
Barry curls in a freekick from out on the left hand side which Davies rises to meet but can onlysend his header just over the crossbar.
Substitution
Second change of the game with John Utaka coming on for Nwankwo Kanu.
Villa launch a quick counter attack down the left and whips in a cross which Heskey turns towards goal, his effort is deflected away and on the follow up Milner's volley is a poor one sending it high and wide.
Red Card
Nadir Belhadj should have been sent off in the first half but is now after kicking the ball away after a decision goes against him, childish stuff from the Pompey man.
Substitution
Martin O'Neill makes his first change of the evening with Craig Gardner coming off and Steve Sidwell coming on as Villa go to a five man midfield.
Milner gets a lovely looking cross into the penalty area from the left hand side whch is just over the head of Agbonlahor as Distin heads it away.
From a third successive corner, this time from Belhadj where Crouch tries to meet it but a fist from Friedel does enough to put the giant striker off who heads it over.
Belhadj with another corner which he this time lifts to the far post where Friedel has to tip the ball over the bar for another corner or risk it dropping in.
Couple of good chance for Crouch, firstly from Johnson's low cross Crouch hits his shot at Knight who deflects it out to Pennant, the former Liverpool man putting another low cross back in which this time Crouch steers wide.
Belhadj picks the ball up ouside the box and has a shot at goal which drifts wide with Friedel watching on as Pompey begin to create a few more chances.
Villa win a corner after Agbonlahor's attempted cross hits Distin and goes behind, from Milner's corner Distin is there again to head the ball away from danger.
Second corner from Belhadj follows a similar pattern to his previous efforts, swinging it in towards the near post where Heskey is waiting to head it away.
Pompey win a corner which Belhadj whips into the near post which would go in if Milner doesn't block the cross at the near post to put it behind for another corner.
Yellow Card
Glen Johnson gets a booking after bringing down Gabriel Agbonlahor who had just got away from him.
Hreidarsson gets forward and produces a great cross which Kanu turns towards goal and forces a save out of Friedel.
Bright start by Portsmouth with a couple of dangerous crosses into the box resulting in Pennant trying his luck from a tight angle on the right hand side which Friedel easily saves.
Substitution
Tony Adams has made a change at the break with Younes Kaboul coming on for Sol Campbell.
Second half
Portsmouth get the second half underway and need a bit of inspiration if they are going to get back into this one as it has been pretty static so far.
Half time
Half time whistle goes after just one minute of added on time and Heskey has proven the difference after a wonderful finish from Heskey but Pompey should be down to ten men after Belhadj's horror challenge.
That would have been ironic after a cross from Pennant finds Belhadj whose shot is just over the crossbar from a tight angle on the left.
Yellow Card
Nadir Belhadj becomes the first man to go into the referee's book but he is a lucky ball after a wild swing at Milner, just a hack from Belhadj who should be off.
Agbonlahor leads a Villa counter attack and tries to whip in a low cross for Heskey who slides in trying to reach it but can't quite grow the extra inches needed to capitalise on the chance.
Long ball over the top which finds Agbonlahor through on goal but the English forward makes a real mess of the chance, trying to slide it past James but hitting it straight at the Pompey goalkeeper. Should have done a lot better.
Milner takes a low corner towards the near post which Heskey finds and shoots on the turn but the former Wigan man on the spin slips and puts it wide.
Milner finds himself in yards of space coming in towards goal on the edge of the box and drives a low shot in which James has to tip behind.
Pompey win another corner which Belhadji swings in but Heskey is back there doing his defensive duties with a header away at the near post.
Best chance of the night for Pompey after Pennant's cross to Mullins midway inside the penalty area, the new Pompey signing though blasts it just wide with a sliced effort as the Fratton Park crowd finally come alive.
Pompey look blunt up front as Pennant tries to work an opening on the edge of the penalty area but Villa deal with it comfortable, Curtis Davies beating his Pompey nameshake to the ball to clear.
Another cross into the Pompey area is headed away to the edge of the penalty area where Barry is waiting who takes it on the half volley but blazes it over the crossbar.
Barry gets forward down the right hand side and swings in a deep cross but its over the head of the waiting Gardner and James can claim it for Pompey.
Pennant swings in a corner after Crouch's deflected shot but puts too much on it and the ball is picked up by Johnson on the far side as Pompey try to recycle the ball but don't manage it.
Crouch tries to reply for Pompey who look a little flat since going behind but this shot is saved easily by Friedel.
Goal
EMILE HESKEY grabs the opening goal on his debut for Aston Villa after a long ball over the top is flicked on by Agbonlahor on the edge of the penalty area for Heskey to run onto a hammer home with his right foot.
From Pennant's corner Heskey heads it away but only as far as Davies who has a pop from outside the box but the skidding shot goes straight through for Friedel.
Finally a half chance fo Portsmouth after Pennant's shot at goal takes a deflection off a Villa player and sends it behind for a corner.
Very little happening in terms of chances with neither side giving an inch in the final third of the field and Villa have had to change their shape to accommodate Heskey, doesn't seem to be working so far.
First corner of the gamegoes to Villa after Agbonlahor's break, Milner takes the corner in towards the near post but Campvell is there to head it away.
Villa are very busy all over the park, hurridly closing down Pompey at every opportunity and Tony Adams side can't get out of their own half so far.
Barry with the first attack of the game with a freekick from midway inside the Pompey half, the Villa skipper floating it into the penalty dut Davies heads it away.
Bright start to the game, both sides playing at full pace right from the off and an interesting stat foryou that if Villa win 10-0 and Man Utd lose 1-0 at West Brom Villa will go top of the league.
Kickoff
Referee Peter Walton gets this clash underway with Villa knowing that a win will put them six points ahed of Arsenal in fourth spot whilst Tony Adams knows that another defeat will see his portsmouth side slide further down the table.
Awaiting Kickoff
Aston Villa XI: Friedel, Cuellar, Knight, Davies, Luke Young, Gardner, Petrov, Barry, Milner, Agbonlahor, Heskey.
Awaiting Kickoff
The big team news for Villa is that Emile Heskey makes his debut after his £3.5million move from Wigan but Marton O'Neill's men are without Ashley Young for a second game after his sending off against Sunderland.
Awaiting Kickoff
Portsmouth XI: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Davis, Mullins, Belhadj, Crouch, Kanu.
Awaiting Kickoff
Portsmouth hand a debut to Hayden Mullins after he completed his move to Fratton Park on Monday as under pressure Tony Adams make a couple of changes to the side that lost at home to Swansea.