Super-sub Delfouneso keeps Villa´s Euro bid alive

Aston Villa remain in the hunt for a Champions League place after Nathan Delfouneso’s first Premier League goal clinched a 2-1 win against Portsmouth on Sunday.

Martin O’Neill’s team fell behind to an early strike from Michael Brown at Fratton Park, but Villa hit back soon after through John Carew, who then saw a penalty saved by David James before half-time.

Carew had no need to rue that miss as teenage striker Delfouneso came off the bench in the 80th minute and scored just two minutes later to lift Villa above Liverpool into sixth place in the table.

Delfouneso has never started a Premier League game but the Birmingham-born 19-year-old is regarded as a potential star at Villa Park and his dramatic intervention means Villa are firmly on course for a Europa League place.

They could even snatch a Champions League spot as they lie six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with four games still to play.

O’Neill saluted Delfouneso and said: “I’ve been saying this for some considerable time, but he’s going to be a proper player and if he keeps his feet on the ground, he’s got a real proper chance. He’s got real ability and his attitude has been excellent.

“To give ourselves any chance (of a top-four finish) we have to win all our games. We go to Hull on Wednesday still full of hope.”

Pompey boss Avram Grant said: “I think you saw we still have a high spirit. We kept fighting even though a few of the players were not 100 percent fit.”

Grant handed 18-year-old defender Leonard Sowah his first start, while James, Aaron Mokoena, Hassan Yebda, Nwankwo Kanu and Kevin-Prince Boateng returned after missing the mid-week draw at Wigan.

Both sides suffered differing fortunes in their respective games at Wembley last weekend, with Villa crashing out of the FA Cup with a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea and Pompey pulling off a surprise win over Tottenham.

Already-relegated Portsmouth’s first chance came four minutes in when Brad Friedel spilled a John Utaka cross and the ball fell to Kanu but the Nigerian’s shot was blocked by James Collins.

The hosts didn’t have to wait long to take the lead as Anthony Vanden Borre laid the ball off to Brown, who slotted past Friedel from just inside the penalty area in the 10th minute.

James denied Stewart Downing and Carew with fine stops, but Villa drew level in the 16th minute as Carew beat Portsmouth’s clumsy offside trap to reach Stephen Warnock’s through-ball and fire past James.

Pompey defender Marc Wilson almost put the ball into his own net moments later but his deflected clearance rebounded off a post.

Villa should have taken the lead when Papa Bouba Diop carelessly brought down Carew after he lost possession inside his own box, but the Norwegian chose to power his penalty down the middle and James stood his ground to brilliantly push out the spot-kick.

The visitors threatened at the start of the second half as James Milner danced past two Pompey defenders before seeing his 25-yard strike saved by former Villa keeper James.

Villa appealed when Vanden Borre looked to have brought down Ashley Young just before the hour but no penalty was given.

Young was in the thick of the action soon after when he crossed for Milner, who blasted a stinging low drive towards goal that James palmed away.

Brown’s long throw then found Bouba Diop, who flicked on to Tommy Smith but the striker’s header went just wide.

O’Neill sent on Emile Heskey and Delfouneso in the closing stages and it proved an inspired move.

In the 82nd minute, Milner crossed for Heskey, who headed the ball on for Delfouneso to finish well from five yards with his first touch.