Scott Carson makes a brilliant save from Boupa Diop's strike to deny Pompey a fourth goal of the game.

Pompey are holding onto the ball and in total control of the game as it nears it's end.

Gabriel Agbonlahor rose above Distin and headed Young's cross straight against the cross bar from three yards out. It's just not Villa's day.

Olof Mellberg drove forward and drilled the ball inches past the post as Villa still push for a goal.

Papa Boupa Diop missed a glorious chance for Pompey in a position where it was impossible to miss, but the midfielder side footed the ball against the side netting.

Villa then won a free kick on the opposite side of the pitch when Young was brought down, but Noe Pamarot headed the ball to safety.

Aston Villa won a corner after Pompey sloppily gave the ball away in their own half, but Sol Campbell rose heighest and cleared the ball.

Pompey had a brilliant chance to seal the game as Krancjar broke on the counter attack, Sylvain Distin broke his neck to get up and support him but Krancjar's ball was terrible and Aston Villa won the ball back.

Aston Villa have to take some risks now if they are to get anything more out of the game, but they have to take their chances, this time it was Gareth Barry with a poor free kick from the right that was easily cleared by Portsmouth.

Ashley Young wastes the opportunity of a free kick in a wonderful position by crashing his effort straight against the Pompey wall.

The tempo and the temperature have both risen at Villa Park and the home crowd don't believe the game is over just yet.

Gareth Barry gets away without a booking after barging over Boupa Diop to get the ball back after scoring the penalty.

Sylvain Distin brings Ashley Young down in the box needlessly and gives away a penalty

Portsmouth are playing some lovely football now the game is as good as over, with Sulley Muntari doing some showboating in the middle of the park.

Muntari has been a revelation for Pompey this season and today's performance has shown why Harry Redknapp paid the amount of money he did for the midfielder.

David James was electric at coming out of his area to close down Gabriel Agbonlahor who was through on goal after some good closing down from Craig Gardner.

John Carew used his height to jump for a header from a Villa corner with but Pedro Mendes was on the post for Pompey and he watched it go out for a goal kick.

Niko Krancjar shows a touch of class as he controlled the ball brilliantly and cut inside from the left, and pulled a right footed shot inches wide of the post.

Krancjar played a clever ball over the top for Muntari to cross into the penalty area where Benjani was waiting, but Laursen headed to safety.

David James this time was Portsmouth's culprate for giving the ball away, with a punt up-field that went straight through to Scott Carson in the opposite goal.

The first chance of the half fell to Pompey when John Utaka crossed the ball in from the right for Muntari who was making a late burst from midfield, but the Ghanaian's header went over Carson's crossbar

Sylvain Distin showed how good of a defender he is by first outpacing John Carew and then holding him off to win a throw in for Pompey.

David James showing what a fine goalkeeper he is for Portsmouth with a fantastic save from a powerful shot from Agbonlahor, which looked destined for the back of the net.

Aston Villa don't deserve to go in to the break two goals down and Martin O'Neill will certainly feel hard done by.

Aston Villa's claims for handball against Noe Pamarot were waved away by Mike Riley after John Carew's fierce shot was blocked by the defender.

Portsmouth played some good football with some intricate passes between Benjani and Muntari, but Villa did well to close them down and won back possession to stop any cross from Pompey.

No surprise that it was Agbonlahor who broke clear for Villa down the left after a ball over the top from Gareth Barry, he did well to keep the ball in but his disguised cross fell into the hands of David James.

Glen Johnson did well to advance down the right playing a one-two with Benjani and crossing for Krancjar who failed to make a clean connection with the ball and Villa cleared comfortably.

Agbonlahor's pace is troubling Pompey's backline and he continues to get in behind them, all he needs is half a chance and he'll make them pay.

Gabriel Agbonlahor fired the ball at goal from the tightest of angle's, with a slight deflection coming off Sol Campbell David James had to save the shot with his feet to deny the striker.

Portsmouth's marking in the penalty area has been atrocious and Villa will make them pay if it carries on this way

Harry Redknapp will not be happy with his teams retention of the ball, they can not keep possession and continue to give it away

Martin Laursen missed another fantastic chance for Villa, this time it was harder to miss than score but the ball hit the Danish defender on the shoulder and thankfully for Pompey his effort went wide.

Martin Laursen found himself in a golden position from Young's corner, he was unmarked in the six yard box but he didn't seem to connect fully with the ball and David James watched his header roll past his post.

Gareth Barry is going mad, along with the crowd, after Mike Riley yet again awards a dubious free kick to Pompey in a dangerous position. Lucky enough for Villa, Muntari's effort was feable.

The Aston Villa faithful are not happy with some of the decisions Mike Riley has made so far in the game, nothing seems to be going the home side's way in the opening fifteen minutes.

Aston Villa have come straight back at Pompey after going behind, winning two corners in succession and putting some pressure on their backline.

Pompey won a free kick out on the right which was whipped in by Sulley Muntari, but despite the troops coming up from the back Villa cleared the cross with ease

Craig Gardner tried to play Gabriel Agbonlahor in on goal but his miss-placed pass found Ashley Young free at the back post, but the young winger put his effort wide of the goal. First chance to Villa.

The wind is blowing visciously accross the field and the surface is wet and slippery, so the conditions are far from perfect for both teams.

Both teams make a sloppy start to the game with Pompey's Sol Campbell hitting a pass too long for Niko Krancjar to recieve.