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Aston Villa remain in the hunt for a European place after Nathan Delfouneso's first Premier League goal clinched a 2-1 win against Portsmouth on Sunday.

Martin O'Neill's team fell behind to an early goal from Michael Brown at Fratton Park, but Villa hit back soon after through John Carew, who then saw a penalty saved by David James before half-time.

Carew had no need to rue that miss as teenage striker Delfouneso came off the bench in the 80th minute and scored just two minutes later to lift Villa above Liverpool into sixth place in the table.

Delfouneso has never started a Premier League game but the Birmingham-born 19-year-old is regarded as a potential star at Villa Park and his dramatic intervention means Villa are on course for a Europa League place.

They could even snatch a Champions League spot as they lie six points behind fourth placed Tottenham with four games still to play.

Pompey boss Avram Grant handed 18-year-old defender Leonard Sowah his first start, while James, Aaron Mokoena, Hassan Yebda, Nwankwo Kanu and Kevin Prince Boateng returned after missing the midweek draw at Wigan.

Both sides suffered differing fortunes in their respective games at Wembley last weekend, with Villa crashing out of the FA Cup with a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea and Pompey pulling off a surprise win over Spurs.

Already-relegated Portsmouth's first chance came four minutes in when Brad Friedel spilled a John Utaka cross, the ball fell to Kanu but the Nigerian's shot was blocked by James Collins.

The hosts didn't have to wait long to take the lead as Anthony Vanden Borre laid the ball off to Brown, who slotted past Friedel from just inside the penalty area in the 10th minute.

James denied Stewart Downing and Carew with fine stops, but Villa drew level in the 16th minute as Carew beat Portsmouth's clumsy offside trap to reach Stephen Warnock's through-ball and fire past James.

Pompey defender Marc Wilson almost put the ball into his own net moments later but his deflected clearance rebounded off a post.

Utaka was close to scoring for the hosts as he forced Friedel to save well before the American tipped a teasing ball from Boateng wide minutes later.

Villa should have taken the lead when Papa Bouba Diop carelessly brought down Carew after he lost possession inside his own box.

But the Norwegian chose to power his penalty down the middle and James stood his ground to brilliantly push out the spot-kick.

The visitors threatened at the start of the second half as James Milner danced past two Pompey defenders before seeing his 25-yard strike saved by former Villa keeper James.

Villa appealed for a penalty when Vanden Borre looked to have brought down Ashley Young just before the hour but no penalty was given.

Young was in the thick of the action soon after when crossed for Milner, who blasted a low drive towards goal but James palmed away the stinging shot.

Brown's long throw found Bouba Diop who flicked on to Tommy Smith but the striker's header went just wide.

O'Neill sent on Emile Heskey and Delfouneso in the closing stages and it proved an inspired move.

In the 82nd minute, Milner crossed for Heskey, who headed the ball on for Delfouneso to finish well from five yards with his first touch.