Portsmouth Football Club News

Emile Heskey finished a route one attack for Villa as the visitors take a one-goal lead into the interval. Tony Adams made four changes from the side that exited the FA Cup to Swansea on Saturday. Hayden Mullins made his debut in the centre of midfield, while Glen Johnson returned from suspension at right-back with Hermann Hreidarsson on the opposite flank. Kanu made his first Premier League start of the season, partnering Peter Crouch in attack as the Blues switched to a 4-4-2 formation. Neither goalkeeper was troubled in the opening stages with resolute defending stopping the attacking players from venturing too far into opposition territory. The first shot of the match finally arrived on 16 minutes, although Stiliyan Petrov’s long-range effort was struck wildly wide. At the other end, Mullins’ shot was deflected narrowly over after some good work down the right by Kanu and Jermaine Pennant. Brad Friedel then made a routine save to hold Sean Davis’ low drive from 25 yards as the game began to open up. But after a spell of pressure by Pompey, it was the visitors who took the lead on 21 minutes. Debutant Heskey flicked on Friedel’s free-kick, before receiving the ball back from Gabriel Agbonlahor and sliding it home. Pompey came close to levelling on 35 minutes when Nadir Belhadj’s smart pass sent Pennant clear down the right. The winger drilled a low cross into the box for Mullins, but the midfielder’s shot just cleared the crossbar. Villa then almost doubled their lead moments later when James Milner’s cross-shot had to tipped over by David James. They should have been two goals ahead soon after. Gabriel Agbonlahor beat the offside trap and raced through on goal but the striker screwed his shot wide. Pompey: James; Johnson, Campbell (c), Distin, Hreidarsson; Pennant, Mullins, Davis, Belhadj; Crouch, Kanu Booked: Belhadj Subs: Begovic, Pamarot, Kaboul, Mvuemba, A.Traore, Utaka, Nugent Aston Villa: Friedel; Cuellar, Knight, Davies, Young; Gardner, Petrov, Barry (c), Milner; Heskey, Agbonlahor Goals: Heskey 21 Subs: Guzan, Osbourne, Shorey, Salifou, Sidewell, Delfouneso, Harewood Referee: Peter Walton

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