Villa were left to count the cost of a catalogue of first-half misses on an afternoon of real frustration.

The stats will show that Villa had more possession and more attempts on goal. They will also show that the visitors won 3-1.

Two goals from Sulley Muntari and a Craig Gardner own-goal did the damage, with Gareth Barry's second-half penalty the sole consolation.

With the two sides sizing each other up, neither keeper was troubled in the opening exchanges.

Young dragged a low right-foot drive just past the post on six as he met Gardner's square ball on the edge of the box.

The visitors took the lead on nine as Gardner could only half clear a Muntari drive under pressure from Benjani and deflected the ball past Carson.

Villa responded quickly and might have had a penalty a minute later as Agbonlahor was tripped, but the referee waved play on.

Agbonlahor met a Young corner from the right on 11, but headed onto the roof of the net.

Villa might have been level on 18 as Laursen rose to meet Young's corner, but the Dane's header was saved by James.

Laursen went close again two minutes later, heading narrowly wide as he met Young's free-kick from the left.

Villa continued to press for an equaliser, with Young in particular seeing plenty of the ball.

Muntari fired high over the bar from distance on 24.

James blocked Agbonlahor's low angled drive from the right on 26.

Agbonlahor almost met Carew's flick from a long Carson clearance on 28, but James raced off his line to collect.

Barry volleyed into the North Stand from distance on 32. Moments later James pounced on a near-post cross from Agbonlahor just before Barry arrived.

Kranjcar's right-foot drive from 25 yards was deflected wide for a corner on 35.

Carew's right-foot drive was blocked - maybe by a hand - on 39.

A minute later Muntari put Portsmouth 2-0 up, cutting onto his left foot and curling a thunderous strike past Carson.

James brilliantly denied Agbonlahor in stoppage time, deflecting the striker's rising drive from a Carew flick behind for a corner. Seconds later James blocked a low Bouma drive.

With O'Neill looking for a response, Villa made a slow start to the second-half.

Kranjcar dragged a low right-foot drive past the post on 55.

Carew headed narrowly wide from Young's corner as he rose above a crowded six-yard box a minute later.

James then raced off his line to beat Agbonlahor to substitute Berger's through ball. Berger himself fired high and wide from an angle on 59.

Muntari added Portsmouth's third on 61, robbing Reo-Coker in midfield and firing past Carson.

Villa were awarded a penalty on 71 as Young was felled in the box by Distin. Barry fired into the roof of the net.

Harewood fired straight at James as he met Agbonlahor's pass on 75.

Young sent a rising free-kick straight at the Pompey wall on 77.

Bouba Diop somehow missed from four yards out on 85, firing into the side netting.

Berger flashed a left-foot drive just past the angle of post and crossbar on 88.

Mellberg then saw his low 35-yard drive flash inches past the post.

Agbonlahor headed onto the bar as he met Harewood's near-post cross from the right in stoppage-time.

VILLA: Carson, Bouma, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Reo-Coker, Gardner, Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew (booked 4). Subs: Taylor, Berger (for Bouma 54 - booked 67), Harewood (for Gardner 71), Maloney, Davies.

Portsmouth: James (booked 74), Johnson (booked 67), Bouba Diop, Muntari, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka, Kranjcar (booked 80), Campbell, Benjani, Mendes. Subs: Begovic, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Taylor (for Kranjcar 89), Kanu (for Utaka 65).