Stewart Downing scored on his first start for Aston Villa to help them book their place in the Carling Cup semi-finals with a 4-2 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

The result means that new Pompey boss Avram Grant has now watched his side concede eight goals in his first two matches in charge since taking over the hot-seat from Paul Hart.

Indeed, the Israeli had said before the game that it is going to take a 'miracle' to keep the South Coast outfit in the Premier League this season and on this evidence he may well be right.

In fairness to Pompey they were shorn of arguably their two best players this term, Jamie O'Hara and Kevin-Prince Boateng, who were both cup-tied and their ingenuity and guile was sorely missed in the midfield.

For Villa, boss Martin O'Neill named a stong starting XI with places for Downing, Ashley Young and James Milner, while Emile Heskey also go a rare start in attack.

But it was the home side who took the lead when Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov diverted a 10th-minute Danny Webber corner into his own net at the near post when in truth it looked easier to clear.

However, the he lead lasted only two minutes with Milner slipping a lovely ball through for Heskey to clip the ball over Pompey goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and into the net to restore parity.

Heskey has now scored on his last three visits to Fratton Park as he had netted for Wigan before making the move to Villa nearly a year ago as well as netting on his debut for the Villians back in January in a 1-0 win.

The five-time winners of the League Cup then took the lead in stunning fashion - Milner cut inside from the left flank after collecting a throw-in and gave Begovic no chance as he unleashed a drive into the far corner.

Pompey huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser with Hassan Yebda, Nadir Belhadj and Webber all having no more than half chances to bring their side level.

Into the second half, and Villa were now looking dangerous - sitting deep to defend then attacking with real explosive pace, withe the likes of Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor looking particularly dangerous.

And they would eventually find the sucker punch - when Downing, who has has been recovering from a foot injury since making a £12million summer move from Middlesbrough, headed home a Young cross which had bamboozled the Pompey defence.

Kanu did give the home fans hope when he bundled in from close range lat on, but that was quickly extinguised as Young immediately tucked away Agbonlahor's cross to restore the two-goal cushion and ensure Villa's name is the hat for the semi-final draw on Wednesday evening.

Portsmouth (4-4-2): Begovic: Vanden Borre, Kaboul, Ben-Haim, Hreidarsson; Yebda, Brown, Hughes (Wilson 87'), Belhadj; Webber (Kanu 67'), Utaka (Piquionne 75')

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan; L Young, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock; Milner, Petrov, Downing; Agbonlahor, Heskey (Delfouneso 89'), A Young