Emile Heskey paid off the first instalment of his £3.5million transfer fee with a 20th-minute debut goal that took Aston Villa up to third in the Premier League with their latest smash-and-grab success at Fratton Park.

Luckless Portsmouth, meanwhile, slipped deeper into the relegation mire just four days after losing their grip on the FA Cup, losing Nadir Belhadj to a red card in the process.

Martin O'Neill's side are now level on points with second-placed Liverpool, who were at one stage linked with a transfer window move for their former striker Heskey.

On this evidence, he already looks an astute purchase.

Villa, though, were left clinging on against Pompey's 10 men who should have snatched a equaliser right at the end when substitute John Utaka ran straight into goalkeeper Brad Friedel instead of shooting from close range.

Earlier Pompey boss Tony Adams - who has won just two of 14 games since taking over from Harry Redknapp - saw his own new signing Hayden Mullins waste two decent chances.

He was further sickened when Algerian Nadir Belhadj saw red - first for tripping Craig Gardner and then handling the ball after an innocuous clash with Carlos Cuellar.

Pompey still battled to the end with substitute Utaka missing another clear opportunity right at the death. But by then most of the 19,073 crowd must have know it was again going to be Villa's night.

The visitors had barely threatened before keeper Brad Friedel's clearance was headed on unchallenged by first Heskey and then Agbonlahor, who found Heskey's fine run.

The England striker was afforded too much space to meet his partner's ball on the edge of the area and drilled it first time past David James.

Peter Crouch missed a sitter as Pompey took the game firmly to their high-flying visitors in the second half.

The industrious Jermaine Pennant, signed last week from Liverpool, brilliantly set up his former Reds team-mate but Crouch sent his shot over the crossbar from just six yards.

Villa were happy to play on the break although their defence, still lacking the injured Martin Laursen, looked none too happy against Pompey's continued pressure.

Pennant and Sean Davis forced saves from Friedel and Portsmouth looked sound at the back despite the absence of skipper Sol Campbell in the second period.

Campbell was replaced at half time by another former Spurs centre-half, Younes Kaboul.

But the south coast side's hopes took a major dent when Belhadj was dismissed in the 71st minute.

Curiously, though, it looked like Pompey had the numerical advantage, such was their territorial authority as Villa flagged.

Gareth Barry and James Milner worked hard for Villa, whose game is built so much on solid team-work and although Heskey was comfortably policed in the second period, Pompey were always concerned by the pace of Agbonlahor.

Indeed, the 22-year-old forward should have wrapped it up five minutes before the break when he dragged wide trying to beat James at his near post after sprinting clear.

Relegation looks a real threat now for Pompey with games against Liverpool and Manchester United coming up, but for Villa the future looks exciting - even though they rarely thrilled at Fratton Park.

Teams:

Portsmouth James, Johnson, Campbell (Kaboul 46), Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Davis, Mullins, Belhadj, Crouch, Kanu (Utaka 74).

Subs Not Used: Begovic, Nugent, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Armand Traore.

Sent Off: Belhadj (71).

Booked: Belhadj, Johnson.

Aston Villa Friedel, Cuellar, Knight, Davies, Luke Young, Gardner (Sidwell 65), Petrov, Barry, Milner, Agbonlahor, Heskey (Shorey 83).

Subs Not Used: Guzan, Harewood, Delfouneso, Salifou, Osbourne.

Booked: Petrov, Milner.

Goals: Heskey 21.

Att: 19,073

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).