Delfouneso wins it for Villa!

Villa could have so easily be wondering how they didn’t win today with the amount of missed chances today, John Carew in particular should of walked away with the match ball.

Portsmouth went into this game with nothing to lose and everything to gain, already relegated and a place in the FA Cup final they were playing for pride, and they didn’t just roll over and die for Villa.

Despite the early pressure from Villa it was Portsmouth who took the lead. Van der Borre twisted inside Stephen Warnock and cuts the ball across goal where it came out to Michael Brown who smashed the ball past Brad Friedel in the Villa goal.

Villa didn’t have to wait long though to get back on level terms, in fact it was only six minutes. Carew beat the offside trap, cut inside David Wilson and smashed the ball past England keeper David James.

Five minutes before the end of the first half Villa were awarded a penalty when Papa Boupa Diop brought down Carew in the box. Carew stepped up only for it to be hit straight down the middle and for James to save it easily.

Villa could and maybe should of have at least two more clear cut penalties. The first was when Gabby Agbonlahor was brought down in the area. Somehow the referee awarded Portsmouth a free-kick to the shock of the whole stadium. And later on Ashley Young was brought down by Anthony Van der Borre, but again the referee said no.

Villa did finally score a winner with eight minutes left to play. Villa take a quick free kick, which meets Emile Heskey’s head and Nathan Delfouneso scores from close range to score his first goal in the Premier League.

This wasn’t as easy as some might of thought it could be but never the less it was an important three points for Villa. It moves them above Liverpool in the table and gives them a four point gap from Everton.