Portsmouth won their sixth straight away Premier League game with a remarkable 3-1 triumph away to Aston Villa.

The result bore little resemblance to the balance of play, but a Craig Gardner own-goal and two special strikes by Sulley Muntari gave the scoreline an emphatic look.

The Ghanaian's two thunderbolts were the visitors' only meaningful shots on target until the 93rd minute, as Portsmouth went three up without Scott Carson making a save.

Gareth Barry's thunderous penalty added spice to the finale but Villa never looked like clawing their way back and have now suffered two home defeats in a week.

As against Arsenal last Saturday, Martin O'Neill may feel his side were hard done-by, having dominated the game but been undone by a lack of clinical finishing.

Ashley Young dragged an early chance wide from the edge of the box before Portsmouth took the lead farcically on nine minutes.

A Noe Pamarot shot was flying well wide before being deflected back into danger by Villa left-back Wilfried Bouma. Gardner then prodded into his own net with Benjani Mwauwari breathing down his neck.

The home side dominated before and after the first goal, and centre-back Martin Laursen missed two wonderful chances to equalise in the space of three minutes.

Twice the Dane was presented with free headers after losing his marker, and twice failed to connect properly with the goal at his mercy.

David James produced three excellent saves - the best from a deflected Gabriel Agbonlahor effort - and John Carew had a penalty shout denied as Villa turned the screw.

But Muntari increased Portsmouth's lead with a stunning effort, tricking his way past Laursen and powering into the top-left corner from 25 yards with little backlift.

Carew went close with a header early in the second period as the pattern of home dominance continued, but Muntari settled the game with a remarkable goal on the hour mark.

He collected possession in the centre circle and knocked the ball past Zat Knight before bending it past Carson with the outside of his left boot.

The game developed an unpleasant edge as Mike Riley showed seven yellow cards, five to Portsmouth players.

Barry walloped his penalty in after Young was needlessly fouled by Sylvain Distin, but a comeback was never on the cards.

In fact, Portsmouth should have made the scoreline even more emphatic, as Papa Bouba Diop missed a close-range sitter before stinging Carson's hands from distance.

Harry Redknapp will not mind, as his side go fifth ahead of Manchester City. Villa - perhaps undone by the curse of the Manager of the Month award - stay seventh.

Alex Chick / Eurosport