Controversy in Villa Park stalemate

The official, Phil Sharp, sank to his knees and needed treatment before resuming with a plaster on his forehead.

Before that Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe was guilty of a glaring first-half miss from four yards as the game fizzled out into a tame draw. Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis was sent off for two bookable offences with 10 minutes remaining but his side held out.

Their man of the match was veteran defender Sol Campbell, who rolled back the years with a vintage display alongside the impressive Sylvain Distin.

Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel was called into his first meaningful action of the game after six minutes when Davis struck his half volley cleanly but the stopper was alert and clung onto the shot away to his left.

John Carew hooked wide for the home side before an inswinging Ashley Young corner picked out the Norway international, whose close-range effort was blocked by Glen Johnson.

Villa defender Curtis Davies came close to breaking the deadlock after 17 minutes after Martin Laursen had headed a deep free-kick from Gareth Barry back across goal - but he was unable to get over his close-range shot.

The hosts had their let off after 28 minutes after Peter Crouch had laid the ball into the path of Armand Traore, whose fierce shot from the left side of the box rattled against the post.

The rebound hit Friedel on the back and Curtis Davies failed to make full contact on his intended clearance, which fell to Defoe only four yards out. He looked certain to score but somehow hooked his shot high and wide.

Davis was dismissed for his second offence on Stiliyan Petrov - but his side held out with relative ease.