The game hinged on the Peruvian’s early dismissal for swinging a flaying arm into Richard Hughes’ glass jaw as the Pompey midfielder held him back. Villa had been dominant until then and although that ascendancy lasted long enough for Hughes to head Gareth Barry’s resulting free-kick past Sanders Westervelt, the home side soon took control. Lomana Tresor LuaLua equalised with a stunning strike before half-time but despite dominating,
"We are unlucky," Pompey manager Alain Perrin said after the game. "We have to find the black cat in the dressing room." Based on last night’s performance the side will have to stumble across a witch’s coven of metropolitan proportions after failing to shoo ten-man Villa away. But they must have felt their luck was in when Solano was given his marching orders as he tried to free himself from the midfielder, who was tugging his shirt. At first glance the card appeared justified, if a little harsh, but David O'Leary saw it differently. "Nol Solano violent? Give me a break. He just brushed the fellow off. He [Hughes] went down like a sack of God-knows-what and now he stands to be banned for three games," he said and will appeal against the red card.
His anger must have diminished when Villa scored from the free-kick Solano had won. Gareth Barry floated the ball towards Kevin Phillips, who was unable to reach it. Hughes did though, heading into the near corner and Peter Whittingham almost made it 2-0 when he struck a superb long-range free-kick against the bar, but
Hughes and O’Brien both missed chances in the second period, while Liam Ridgewell went close for Villa but the game eventually petered out into a draw. O’Leary will not be satisfied with two points from three games but with Milan Baroš set to make his debut against