Aston Villa 1 Portsmouth 3

It had started so well for Aston Villa — a manager-of-the-month award for Martin O'Neill, player-of-the-month trophy for Gabriel Agbonahor and a pitchside presentation to skipper Gareth Barry for becoming the youngest player to notch up 300 games in the Premiership with the same club.

But in the end all the plaudits fell to Ghanaian dynamo Sulley Muntari whose two long-range left-footed strikes ensured visitors Portsmouth were the ones with the most valuable prize of all — the three points.

Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth side had far fewer chances than Villa but made their immense physical presence felt as they brushed the home side off the ball to seize victory after a defensive error in the first half had gifted Pompey the lead through a Craig Gardner own goal.

The game was billed as one of the key matches in the Premier League with both sides chasing the top four and European places.

Villa had started seventh and would have gone fifth if they could beat Redknapp's high-flying side. Stiliyan Petrov was still out with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Gardner while Nigel Reo-Coker back from suspension.

All eyes were also on Villa's keeper Scott Carson who was not only lining up against David James — the former Villa keeper he had ousted from the England squad but also against Nico Krancjar — the Croatian who had caused him and his country so many problems in the Euro 2008 Championship qualifiers.

But Carson really had very little to do, despite the scoreline, while James was kept busy from the outset.

Pompey's early lead came almost against the run of play with Krancjar digging out the unmarked Noe Pamarot from a corner. His skewed shot went straight at Frederick Bouma, whose mishit clearance caused brief chaos before Craig Gardner succeeded only in turning the ball into his own net under pressure from Benjani.

Villa appeals for a penalty following a Glen Johnson challenge on Ashley Young were waved aside by referee Mike Riley and then Nigel Reo-Coker was penalised for a foul on Pamarot when he seemingly got the ball, further irking the home side.

Villa were still having the best of the chances as they chased the equaliser but they were caught cold ten minutes before the interval when Sulley Muntari's 25-yard strike flew low past Carson into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Agbonlahor tried to restore some Villa pride just before half-time but James was the equal of his effort with a wonderfully athletic save.

Former Pompey midfielder Patrik Berger entered the fray in the second half for Bouma and Barry switched to left-back as Villa tried to regain some control.

John Carew, who always looks dangerous in front of goal, saw his 56th-minute header fall wide after a good ball from Young but within five minutes Pompey had wrapped up the points following another Muntari thunderbolt.

A poor Carson clearance fell only as far as Reo-Coker and as he tried to control it, Muntari used his strength to run him of the ball before nutmegging the advancing Zat Knight and thrashing the ball home from fully 30 yards.

Redknapp's goal celebrations had the Holte End in uproar and they began taunting the Portsmouth manager.

It was little consolation when Sylvain Distain brought down Ashley Young to win a penalty, converted by Barry.

By the final whistle referee Riley had been busy issuing seven yellow cards — so busy perhaps that he did not see the real tussle on the sidelines with Villa fans claiming the Portsmouth manager had abused a section of the fans.

Scorers: Gardner (og, 10) 0-1, Muntari (40) 0-2, Muntari (61) 0-3, Barry (pen, 72) 1-3.
ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Carson, Bouma, (Berger, 51) Laursen, Knight, Mellberg, Young, Barry, Reo-Coker, Gardner, (Harewood, 71) Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs: Taylor, Davies, Maloney.
PORTSMOUTH (4-1-4-1): James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Mendes, Utaka (Kanu, 61), Bouba Diop, Muntari, Krancjar, (Taylor, 89) Benjani. Subs: Begovic, Hreidarsson, Nugent.
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
Bookings: Villa — Carew (foul), Berger (foul); Portsmouth — Bouba Diop (foul), Pamarot (foul) Krancjar (foul), James (time wasting).
Attendance: 35,790.
Villa man of the match: John Carew - strove manfully all afternoon to get his side into the match.