Villa overpowers a weakened Pompey’s side

Avram Grant’s stint with Portsmouth had the second loss in two matches as Aston Villa got the better of the former in the Carling Cup quarter finals on December 1, 2009 at the Fratton Park. Martin O’Neill made his seventh appearance at the Carling Cup in which he has a record winning it two times as a player himself with Nottingham Forest and then with Leicester City. O’Neill fielded a 4-4-2 formation where Stewart Downing had a full time role to play after his long injury lay off since joining from Middlesborough.

Villa had all the four England players scoring for them in a great game where they showed the intent and passion for reaching a tournament semi final since a long time. Portsmouth did score the first goal with Danny Weber’s corner being deflected by Stilyan Petrov into his own goal. Villa had Milner playing a central role along with Petrov leaving the left side to Downing and Milner adjusted efficiently to the new position. Villa equalized through Emile Heskey with a wonderful chip over Pompey’s keeper, Asmir Begovic when Richard Dunne effectively Milner and whose clever little pass went to Heskey.

Villa went ahead again with Milner this time with superbly curled shot leaving the keeper unmoved. Kanu had given hope to Portsmouth with the second goal but Villa’s counter attack soon enough got Ashley Young’s cross headed towards goal by Downing making it 3-2. The victory was sealed however by Ashley Young when he scored his own goal and sealed the semi final berth making it 4-2. O’Neill made his intentions clear as he fielded a full strength side against a weak Pompey’s side and it promises to be no different either in the semi finals.