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Aston Villa and Portsmouth cemented their places in the top half of the Premier League table after a hard-fought draw at a noisy Villa Park.

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The visitors started well with Jermain Defoe missing a sitter after Armand Traore battered the ball off the post.

But Villa had numerous chances to get a second-half winner with John Carew heading against the bar late on.

Pompey midfielder Sean Davis was unlucky to be sent off with ten minutes remaining after a second yellow card.

Villa were looking to get their solid start to the season back on track after being outclassed by Chelsea before the international break, while the visitors were out to continue their improving form.

The home side had maintained an unchanged starting 11 for all seven of their league games but boss Martin O’Neill gave a league debut to defender Carlos Cuellar and handed James Milner a first league start in his second spell with the club.