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Match Report

Portsmouth v Aston Villa 16 August 2003

SHERINGHAM AND BERGER DEBUT GOALS CAP WIN

Portsmouth 2-1 Aston Villa

Richard Jolly reports

And the fairytale goes on for Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth. The First Division champions can enjoy the sight of themselves at the top of the very early season Premiership table, surviving a late scare to beat Aston Villa in front of a raucous Fratton Park.

Teddy Sheringham and Patrik Berger, two of the five summer signings paraded by Redknapp, scored quality goals; Portsmouth showing that they are not aiming to survive by grit and determination alone.

And though Gareth Barry, the epitome of determination for Villa, won and scored a penalty, he ended Villa's chances of a comeback with enough dissent to bring the first red card of the season.

Sheringham, scorer of the first ever Premiership goal on Sky, added the first of the new campaign in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Even at Sheringham's exalted age, there were plenty of firsts for the veteran. Captaining Portsmouth on his debut, his strike was his first for the club and their first in the Premiership. For the first time in 43 years, Pompey are above Southampton in the league.

Newly-promoted sides need to sign some scrappers to stay up. Right? Well, not for Harry Redknapp. Summer signing Berger set up Yakubu Ayegbeni, bought after promotion, and after his shot was parried by Thomas Sorensen, summer signing Sheringham swept in the rebound.

And the second goal had real Premiership quality. Berger strolled past two defenders - though, for the second goal, Alpay's lunge was ill-judged - and finished delicately with the outside of his foot.

Before then Villa posed a threat at set pieces, courtesy of excellent delivery from Barry, in particular. Two of Pompey's summer imports could count themselves fortunate that the visitors did not take the lead, Alpay their unwitting accomplice. First Marcus Allback was surprised to be penalised when beat Dejan Stefanovic to head in, referee Graham Barber penalising the Turk, and then Alpay evaded Boris Zivkovic only to head wide from close range.

Barry, O'Leary's youthful choice as skipper, opted for the more direct route and almost curled a corner in himself, the sea breeze nearly embarrassing Shaka Hislop. But though the versatile England international and the bloodied Gavin McCann combined well in the first half and the new strike partnership of Allback and Juan Pablo Angel had their moments, the Colombian's final contribution was to miscontrol in front of goal.

With wide men Peter Whittingham and Lee Hendrie struggling to make an impact and a cameo from Peter Crouch making little impact, Villa's finish was, Barry apart, low key. It was an inauspicious start for new manager O'Leary; away days blues, indiscipline and poor finishing were the hallmarks of Graham Taylor's team.

Portsmouth, in contrast, finished with a flourish, Sheringham lasting the pace with style, Ayegbeni displaying his flicks and the increasingly impressive Amdy Faye ubiquitous in midfield. They were, albeit temporarily, top of the league.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Teddy Sheringham (Portsmouth) - Showed his poacher's instincts with a fine goal and his ability with a fine all-round performance.



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