O'Neill delighted with Villa

Boss Martin O'Neill was full of praise for Emile Heskey after he scored on his Aston Villa debut.

Villa manager waxes lyrical over new signing Heskey

Boss Martin O'Neill was full of praise for Emile Heskey after he scored on his Aston Villa debut away to Portsmouth on Tuesday. Heskey made his Villa bow in some style as his first-half strike proved the difference as the Midlands outfit secured their sixth away win in the league to go joint level with second-placed Liverpool. "I thought he (Heskey) was fantastic," the Villa boss said of his £3.5million signing. "Although I thought the whole team were excellent." Villa, though, were left clinging on against 10-man Pompey who should have snatched an equaliser right at the end when substitute John Utaka ran straight into goalkeeper Brad Friedel instead of shooting from close range. And O'Neill was grateful for his resolute defence to ensure they went back with the three points. "We looked as though we were running out of steam with 15 to 20 minutes to go despite having the extra player but we had something to hold onto and we defended very strongly indeed and I'm obviously delighted with the team."