Calamity Carson in new giveaway

The Villa goalkeeper, for whom Martin O'Neill is apparently prepared to pay Liverpool £10 million, gave fans a painful reminder of why England will not be at the European Championship as his panicky uncertainty let slip both goals.

Yet even though Carson was caught out of position for the opener and belted an intended clearance against Nigel Reo-Coker for a comical own goal, O'Neill refused to condemn the man on loan from Anfield.

"The second goal was a fluke," said the Villa manager. "You will have to watch a lot of games before you'll see a goal like that again. Overall I've been pleased with Scott Carson."

Portsmouth boss Redknapp, delighted at the end of a week which brought three wins, saw Pompey emerge as FA Cup favourites and climb above Villa into sixth place in the Premier League, was also generous to the keeper.

He said: "Carson's had a terrific season with Villa. The goal was one of those things."

Yet if Carson has ambitions to regain his England place he chose a bad day to look so vulnerable as national team manager Fabio Capello was watching. In contrast the current No 1, David James, put on an immaculate display with two brilliant saves from Ashley Young free-kicks.

Jermain Defoe continued his rich vein of form by putting his new club ahead from their first dangerous attack. The former Spurs striker controlled Glen Johnson's 60- yard pass and then lobbed the ball over Carson for his fifth goal in five games. But his task was made easier as the goalkeeper was stranded.

The second was farcical. As Defoe chased Sulley Muntari's through pass Carson charged out only to hammer the ball against Reo- Coker's knee, from where it rebounded into an unguarded net.

There was still plenty of incident as Gabriel Agbonlahor missed a sitter and Pompey's Muntari and Villa's Olof Mellberg were sent off in separate incidents for second bookings in the last 10 minutes — even though the match was never spiteful.

PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): James; Johnson, Hreidarsson, Distin, Lauren; Diop, Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar; Defoe (Utaka 81min), Baros (Kanu 83). Subs (not used): Ashdown, Aubey, Mendes. Booked: Muntari, Lauren, Diop. Sent off: Muntari (81min).

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Carson; Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma (Salifou 79); Young, Reo-Coker, Barry, Maloney (Harewood 57); Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs (not used): Taylor, Petrov, Osbourne. Booked: Mellberg. Sent off: Mellberg (89min).

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).