A last ditch effort from Portsmouth as Boateng lofts a cross into the danger area but Friedel reads it well and comes off his line to pluck the ball out of the air.

Milner hits an effort at goal and it floats high and into the stand behind the goal. A tired shot from the midfielder who has run himself into the ground today.

Villa win a couple of corners but do not commit players forward and so fail to create anything of real threat to James' goal.

Pompey are throwing everything at this game now but they cannot break down the Villa defence and Dunne is heading clear everything that comes his way.

Boateng tries to create something again but this time his shot is blocked by a claret and blue shirt.

O'Hara shows impatience as he releases yet another long range shot that sails harmlessly wide of the target.

O'Hara swings a dangerous looking corner into the mixer but Collins heads clear at the near post.

Play has slowed down again after Pompey's dangerous spell and Paul Hart looks as though he might look to the bench to try and breathe some more of that life into his side.

Young picks out Cuellar with a corner but his looping header falls straight into the arms of James.

Brown is the latest player to try and get in on the action but he also fails to beat Friedel with his low strike from 25-yards.

Belhadj moves forward again but this time his effort from distance is blocked by Cuellar.

Friedel is having a busy few minutes and is on hand again to deny Belhadj who tries his luck from outside the box.

Piquionne shows a burst of energy as he plays an intricate one-two with Boateng on the edge of the box and forces Friedel into a wonderful save with a driven effort from 18-yards.

Portsmouth are enjoying a good spell at the moment and O'Hara releases an ambitious effort from distance but it sails straight down the throat of Friedel.

Boateng gets a shot away from the corner of the box and Fridel has to be on his toes to turn the ball away.

Kaboul lines up a pile-driver with a free-kick from long range but sends his effort straight into the wall.

Agbonlahor latches onto a long ball and is in a great position for Villa but is pulled back for offside.

Young floats a corner into the mixer but it is too close to James who punches the ball clear.

Petrov unleashes a left-footed shot from the edge of the box but James is equal to it.

Agbonlahor moves forward and sends a low ball into the box that is easily dealt with by O'Hara.

Villa go in search of another as Young tries to pick out Carew in the box but Kaboul gets a strong head onto the ball to clear the danger.

O'Hara strikes a vicious shot from way out but it is a comfortable save in the end for Friedel.

Villa Park has come back to life now and the confidence is oozing onto the players on the pitch.

Stuart Attwell awards Aston Villa with a PENALTY as Stiliyan Petrov is brought down inside the box by Nadir Belhadj

Portsmouth have created the only clear cut chance so far with Piquionne's header and aside from that both sides have been limited to hopeful long shots.

Milner tries to create something for Villa as the tempo slows but his searching cross is cleared by Tal Ben-Haim.

That was by far the best chance of the game so far and Piquionne should really have done better with the opportunity.

Brown sends an inviting cross into the box and Frederic Piquionne gets his head on it but directs his effort wide of the post.

Neither side seem able to get past the back-line as Milner's effort from the corner of the box is blocked by Nadir Belhadj

Boateng lets fly from just outside the box but James Collins rushes out and throws his body in front of the shot.

O'Hara looks the most likely to create something for the visitors and sends another ball into the box but this time Friedel plucks the ball out of the air.

Agbonlahor picks up the ball in a decent position and looks for a team-mate in the box but does not have any support.

The game has slowed down a little now and both sides seem to be trying to find their feet after a promising, pacey start.

James Milner looks bright in the opening stages and tries to slide a pass through to the on-rushing Steve Sidwell but Michael Brown puts in a vital interception.

Ashley Young cuts in from the left flank and his fizzing cross comes off the head of Mokoena, forcing a fine save out of David James to prevent the own goal.

Richard Dunn tries to pick out John Carew with a long ball but he over-hits the pass and the move comes to an end.

The game has started with a very quick tempo and goals will surely come as both sides prove they are not afraid to attack.

Jamie O'Hara floats a cross into the box but Kevin-Prince Boateng cannot direct the ball goal-wards.

Pompey take the ball up the other and and Aaron Mokoena tries his luck from distance but fails to trouble Brad Friedel.

Villa come racing out of the blocks and Gabriel Agbonlahor tries to turn his marker and get a shot on goal but Younes Kaboul does enough to turn the ball behind for a corner.