Two changes for Villa

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary made two changes for his side’s second game in barely 48 hours against Portsmouth at Villa Park.

Full-back Mark Delaney had recovered from a knee problem and replaced Ulises de la Cruz while Dion Dublin, rested for the previous two matches, replaced Ronny Johnsen at centre-back for this Barclaycard Premiership fixture.

O’Leary had branded the decision to give Villa such a hectic schedule “a joke” after Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Manchester United but victory would take the Midlands club into the top six.

Pompey were decimated by injuries and Harry Redknapp gave a first start to on loan Ajax defender Petri Pasanen.

Teddy Sheringham – without a goal in his previous 13 appearances – was relegated to the substitutes’ bench.