Villains steal win over Pompey

Portsmouth 1 Aston Villa 2

Thomas Hitzlsperger thumped a late winner to wrap up Aston Villa’s first away win in seven matches – just as he did when they last won on foreign turf at Bolton in November.

Pompey battled back after Arjan de Zeeuw’s own goal in the 17th minute to equalise with an Aiyegbeni Yakubu penalty – his 14th goal of the season – six minutes later.

Villa hit the bar through Juan Pablo Angel’s header before substitute Hitzlsperger’s 25-yard blast left keeper Kostas Chalkias rooted to his line.