David James Frustrates Villa

Martin O’Neill declared after the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth ‘it was another frustrating 90 minutes’.

In a game where Pompey hardly showed up and didn’t manage one true shot on target, it was former Villa keeper David James who kept his team in the match pulling off a few superb saves inlcuding a great reflex save from a John Carew shot and a great block for a powerful shot from Gabriel Agbonlahor, not to mention a first half close range shot from Craig Gardner.

O’Neill said:

‘David James was all that stood between us and three points. It was another frustrating 90 minutes here at Villa Park for us. Very frustrating. We did enough to win the game and created a number of chances. David James was terrific for them and was probably the difference between us getting one point and three.’

‘I don’t remember them actually bothering us. All the chances fell to us, we tried to win the game and I thought we were unlucky. Portsmouth came for a point today and that’s their prerogative. Our job is to try and break them down and over the 90 minutes we were unable to do so. But that was more to do with James being in spectacular form for them than any glaring misses from us.’

‘For most of the game, other than a ten minute spell, we were camped in their half. The goal just wouldn’t come, but it wasn’t for the want of trying.’

You’d never have guessed Portsmouth were fighting for a European place with such a tame performance, that is for sure, glad they didn’t turn up and even more glad the bell ringer forgot his bell today, wonder if he left it under his hat?