Zenden sprinted on as his replacement, but within seconds made a glaring mistake that should have led to a Villa breakthrough.

BBC: Sport - Football - Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland

Villa pushed for a breakthrough but they were repeatedly frustrated, Heskey narrowly failing to connect with Barry's fizzed pass and Zat Knight heading James Milner's in-swinging cross on to the roof of the net.

BBC: Aston Villa 2-2 Stoke

Though Villa could not make the breakthrough, they remain unbeaten at home in the Premier League, while Pompey have stemmed the tide after losing four of the last five away league matches.

BBC: Aston Villa 0-0 Portsmouth

Villa's pressure came close to forcing a breakthrough just before the break as Milner's floated cross to the far post invited Cuellar to restore parity but the right-back's downward header was pushed aside by Howard.

BBC: Aston Villa 2-2 Everton