4 December 2006, by Sean Gillen

Mendes sees red as Portsmouth are held

Portsmouth 2-2 Aston Villa

Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes was sent off late on for two yellow cards as Portsmouth were held at home to a 2-2 draw by Aston Villa on Saturday. Compatriot Manuel Fernandes claims that Pompey deserved a win, as the result sees the south coast side without a victory in three Premiership games.

The hosts, who started with both Portuguese in the midfield, had to come from behind after Gareth Barry gave Villa a 37th minute lead from the penalty spot. Pompey goalkeeper David James had brought down Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, and captain Barry slotted home the resulting spot kick.

Left sided midfielder Matthew Taylor scored twice to turn the game around for the home side, heading a Benjani cross past Stuart Taylor early in the second half, before scoring what looked like the winner from the spot after 80 minutes. However, a late Juan Pablo Angel strike saw both sides go home with a share of the points.

Perhaps in frustration at the goal, former Porto man Mendes was dismissed for a second poor challenge with four minutes left. His rash tackle on Isaiah Osbourne had followed an equally miss-timed effort on Milan Baros earlier in the half, and the 28-year-old could have little basis for complaint at the decision.

Fernandes, who has struggled with fitness since arriving in England from Benfica in August, was happy to have the full 90 minutes under his belt, but admitted to being disappointed with the result.

The 20-year-old told ‘Pompey World’ after the match: “It was a good game. I think we deserved to win but Aston Villa are a very good side. I am disappointed. I think we didn’t begin very well but in the second half we were better and I think we deserved to win that game.”

“My fitness is getting better and if I continue to play I will feel better and better every game.”

The result sees Fernandes’ men stay fourth in the Premiership, with two tough fixtures coming up ahead of the busy Christmas schedule. After hosting seventh-placed Everton, Pompey travel to Arsenal on the 13th.

Portsmouth:
James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Pamarot, O'Neil (c), Fernandes, Mendes, Taylor, LuaLua (Benjani 33), Kanu (Hughes 87)
Yellow Cards: James (36), Mendes (51 & 86)
Red Cards: Mendes

Aston Villa:
Taylor, Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell, Barry (c), Petrov, Osbourne, McCann, Davis (Hughes 90), Agbonlahor, Baros (Angel 78)
Yellow Cards: Ridgewell (45), Osbourne (73), Baros (74), Barry (79)

Goals:
[0-1] Barry, 37 (pen)
[1-1] Taylor, 52
[2-1] Taylor, 79 (pen)
[2-2] Angel, 82