Villa rise to sixth in Premiership
BIRMINGHAM, England -- Aston Villa went into sixth place in the Premiership with a hard-fought 2-1 home win over relegation strugglers Portsmouth on Tuesday.
Colombia forward Juan Pablo Angel's 14th goal of the season put Villa ahead before Pompey - who were missing several players through injury and suspension - levelled in the second half through Nigeria striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
But with the match heading for a draw England forward Darius Vassell's scrambled 'pin-ball' goal five minutes from time sealed the points for David O'Leary's side.
Pompey remained in 16th place, just a point outside the relegation zone and with just one win in their last seven matches, with the rest of the division playing on Wednesday.
The visitors, who beat Villa 2-1 on the opening day of the season, were so weakened they had recalled former long-serving goalkeeper Alan Knight, now a member of the coaching staff, to the bench as cover for Pavel Srnicek.
Villa had problems of their own with O'Leary angry that his team had to play again just two days after their FA Cup defeat by Manchester United.
They made the breakthrough after 22 minutes when Gareth Barry was given time and space to send over a deep cross from the left.
Srnicek unwisely stayed on his line and Angel outjumped the Pompey defence to power home the header past the Czech keeper.
And Villa might have been 2-0 up shortly afterwards when Hendrie's shot from a tight angle struck the near post.
Pompey were on level terms in the 49th minute. From a free-kick awarded for handball by Hendrie, Patrik Berger sent over an outswinging free-kick and Yakubu burst through to head powerfully home from inside the six-yard box.
Villa regained the lead in the 85th minute when from a goalmouth scramble following a free-kick Olof Mellberg's shot rebouned off Boris Zivkovic and onto Vassell's boot past a stranded Srnicek.
