Aston Villa 1 Portsmouth 0: Milan Baros earned Aston Villa their first home Premiership win since St Stephen's Day and sent Harry Redknapp's battlers nearer to the relegation trapdoor.

The Czech striker settled the game with a first-half header to doom Pompey to a ninth successive away defeat and leave them eight points adrift of fourth bottom West Brom. David O’Leary’s side can probably now banish any thoughts of being sucked into a scrap to survive but they seldom fired on all cylinders.

This game will not linger long in the memory and there was a distinct low-key atmosphere on the terraces throughout the 90 minutes. But Villa were worthy winners in chalking up only the fourth success in front of their home fans this season - a stark contrast to a five-month unbeaten away run.

James Milner was a constant threat down the right flank while Steven Davis - tipped by Lawrie Sanchez to win 100 caps for Northern Ireland - and the tigerish Gavin McCann impressed in the centre of the park.

Kevin Phillips also worked hard up front although he will be disappointed not to have converted at least one of the several chances which came his way. But on this evidence there is little hope of Portsmouth pulling off the kind of Great Escape against the odds achieved by West Brom last season despite the closeness of the scoreline.

For all Redknapp’s January signings, Pompey look short of quality and wobbly at the back and it will take a superhuman effort for the manager to avoid going down for a second successive season after making the drop with Southampton.

Phillips missed a good chance to put Villa ahead after nine minutes. Baros and Steven Davis combined well before a pass from the latter sent Phillips clear of the Portsmouth defence. The former Southampton player had time to steady himself but Dean Kiely came racing off his line to narrow the angle and block the eventual shot.

Sorensen produced a fine save from Gary O’Neil save to keep Villa on level terms. Lomana LuaLua’s shot was blocked by Wilfred Bouma but skidded across the face of goal to O’Neil whose powerful first-time effort was instinctively turned over the bar by the Danish international.

Villa were forced to make a substitution after 23 minutes when Jlloyd Samuel limped out of the action to be replaced at right-back by Ulises de la Cruz. There was a low-key atmosphere about proceedings in a barely half-full Villa Park but Milner came close to giving the Holte End something to cheer about after 26 minutes.

He battled for the ball on the right side of the area, turned past Matthew Taylor and flashed a low drive just past the far post. Sorensen again did well to parry away an angled attempt from O’Neil after Lua Lua had laid on the chance.

Phillips was predictably being booed by the Pompey fans every time he touched the ball because of his Southampton connections but only the woodwork denied him in the 33rd minute. Barry played a superb pass over the Portsmouth defence for Phillips whose first touch was excellent before he clipped the ball over Kiely - only for the shot to hit the post.

But Villa were not to be denied and after 36 minutes some dreadful marking gifted Baros his 10th goal of the campaign. Milner’s inswinging free-kick went all the way through to the far post and there were no defenders within five yards of Baros who beat Kiely with a close-range header.

Sorensen made his third important save of the game two minutes into the second period after Ridgewell had been caught in possession by Todorov. O’Neil burst into the box after exchanging passes with LuaLua but Sorensen was able to block his eventual shot.

Andy O’Brien came across smartly to deny Baros after good play by Davis and McCann who then struck a volley from the edge of the Portsmouth area straight at Kiely. Harry Redknapp made his first substitution after 55 minutes with Todorov replaced by Azar Karadas.

Baros took a knock to the head in an aerial collision with Matthew Taylor and he was eventually substituted after 59 minutes with Luke Moore replacing him. Milner continued to cause problems on the left flank and twice went close to doubling Villa’s lead with rasping shots from the edge of the box.