Aston Villa left it agonisingly late but came back from 2-0 down with two
hotly-disputed goals to earn an FA cup replay against the Portsmouth side
inspired by the return to Fratton Park of chairman Terry Venables.
First Steve Staunton and then Simon Grayson - with only a couple of minutes
left on the clock - scored for the Premiership side as Portsmouth players
appealed in desperation for offside.
Pompey had looked as though they had booked their place in the fourth round
draw until Grayson broke through the defence to chip the ball over advancing
keeper Alan Knight to send the rain-soaked Midlands fans home delighted.
And goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was called upon to produce a magnificent diving
save in the dying seconds from Paul Hall to secure the 2-2 draw.
Referee Uriah Rennie was booed off the pitch at the end by the Portsmouth fans
following his controversial decision.
And there was disbelief in the grounds that Portsmouth, struggling at the
bottom of Division One, had thrown away a golden opportunity to light up their
season after going 2-0 up after 38 minutes through two deflected goals by Craig
Foster.
Venables has been closely involved in coaching the Portsmouth players in the
run up to the game, having finally returned from his international commitments
with Australia.
And as the match began in sodden conditions following torrential rain,
Portsmouth looked as if they had benefited from his huge experience as they took
the game to Villa.
After only six minutes, Foster robbed Fernando Nelson on the edge of the area,
survived a clumsy challenge from the Portuguese defender and then saw his shot
deflected past Bosnich from 20 yards out to give Portsmouth the lead.
At the other end, Mark Draper and Ian Taylor both shot just past the post
while Stan Collymore and Savo Milosevic should both have done better with good
chances.
And for all Villa's frailties in defence, it was against the run of play that
Pompey doubled their lead on 38 minutes with another wicked deflection on a shot
from Foster.
Bosnich looked to have the ball well covered until it spooned off a defender's
legs and over his body into the net.
Just four minutes before the break, Irish international Staunton pulled a goal
back for Villa with a first-time left-foot volley that slid under the body of
Knight.
Portsmouth players could not believe that the offside flag had not been raised
and were still arguing with referee Rennie at the half-time whistle.
Villa substituted Riccardo Scimeca for Gareth Southgate at the start of the
second half and shortly afterwards Collymore, who has been suffering from 'flu,
was replaced by Julian Joachim.
Joachim was soon involved, as Knight first dived to deflect his shot around
the post and then Andy Awford slid in to deny him from just six yards out.
Portsmouth looked to be weathering the Villa onslaught and almost capitalised
on the away side throwing men forward when John Aloisi broke clear but hit the
bar from 15 yards out on 69 minutes.
Villa continued to press but seemed short of ideas as the final whistle
approached, only for Andy Thomson to be dispossessed on the edge of the box and
for Grayson to run through and score the equaliser - with the Portsmouth players
again appealing in vain for offside.
Teams
Portsmouth: Knight, Pethick, Thomson, McLoughlin, Waterman,
Awford, Hall, Foster, Aloisi, Svensson, Turner (Igoe 25).
Subs Not Used: Durnin, Flahavan, Whitbread, Hillier.
Booked: Foster, Svensson.
Goals: Foster 6, 40.
Aston Villa: Bosnich, Nelson, Wright, Ehiogu, Staunton,
Southgate (Scimeca 46), Taylor (Hendrie 89), Draper, Grayson,
Milosevic, Collymore (Joachim 56).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Charles.
Booked: Grayson, Ehiogu, Taylor.
Goals: Staunton 41, Grayson 88.
Att: 16,013
Ref: U D Renie (Sheffield).
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