Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa 0 Wigan 0: O'Neill's men waste chance to move into second
The stage was set. Aston Villa[LNB]had won their last four games in an 11-match unbeaten run and one more would put them level on points at the top of the Premier League, if only for a couple of hours.[LNB]England head coach, Fabio Capello, was at Villa Park to see it, with Emile Heskey sure to see off his former club Wigan[LNB], according to what the Italians call the immutable law of the ex.[LNB]With Gabriel Agbonlahor also likely to be Heskey's partner for country, as well as club, in the friendly in Spain on Wednesday week, the omens were all good. Instead, Villa laboured in vain against a dogged Wigan who prised a point with resilience in the face of an onslaught.[LNB] Missed chance: Gareth Barry shoots for Villa[LNB] Aston Villa v Wigan: How the game unfolded[LNB]ASTON VILLA NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]WIGAN NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Stoke 1-0 Man City[LNB]Arsenal 0-0 West Ham[LNB]Bolton 3-2 Tottenham[LNB]Fulham 3-1 Portsmouth[LNB]Hull 2-2 West Brom[LNB]Middlesbrough 0-0 Blackburn[LNB] 'We just couldn't force the ball over the line,' lamented manager Martin O'Neill. 'But in terms of effort it was relentless. The players are putting in a phenomenal effort and I think they are getting some enjoyment out of it. More than the manager.[LNB]'We're a long way from being the finished article. I'm not sure winning league championships is on the agenda just yet.' It might still be if they finish better. Yesterday they missed the finesse of the suspended Ashley Young and although they did create chances, they were frequently snatched at. Coupled with Wigan's heroic defending, it made for some exciting goalmouth incidents.[LNB]'I can't remember being under the cosh like that and getting away with it,' admitted Wigan manager Steve Bruce. It was another satisfying point for his side after a damaging transfer window in which they have sold Heskey and Wilson Palacios. They were also without injured key players Amr Zaki and Antonio Valencia.[LNB] Space saver: Paul Scarner of Wigan is surrounded by James Milner, Curtis Davies and Craig Gardner[LNB]As a result, Bruce cluttered the midfield and, unfamiliar with the system, his side struggled. Curtis Davies headed a corner just over the bar and Agbonlahor's header was tipped over by Chris Kirkland. It seemed only a matter of time before Villa took the lead.[LNB]But Bruce changed the shape of his side and they almost had a lead when Daniel De Ridder looked to be in on goal, only for Davies to intervene with a timely tackle. Brad Friedel also had to be alert to save Maynor Figueroa's header. Early in the second half, Figueroa appeared to handle a cross as Heskey barged into him. Referee Rob Styles gave neither decision.[LNB]It roused Villa, though. They almost grabbed the lead when Zat Knight met Gareth Barry's free-kick and sent a header against a post, but Davies was unable to turn home the rebound.[LNB] High flier: Maynor Figueroa heads on goal but his effort was saved by Brad Freidal[LNB]O'Neill sent on John Carew and it prompted a series of goalmouth scrambles. In one, Figueroa hacked Agbonlahor's header on to a post before it was cleared.[LNB]Then Styles decided Brown's interception of Barry's cross was a back-pass to Kirkland, who was penalised for picking up the ball. After Stiliyan Petrov's kick from just 10 yards out, Agbonlahor's shot was kicked off the line by Paul Scharner, who did it again when Luke Young sent in the rebound.[LNB]Next, Agbonlahor seemed certain to score from six yards, only for Figueroa to get in a block. It summed up the game - Wigan resistance and Villa wastefulness. Their response will be fascinating.[LNB] Aston Villa v Wigan: How the game unfolded[LNB]ASTON VILLA NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]WIGAN NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Stoke 1-0 Man City[LNB]Arsenal 0-0 West Ham[LNB]Bolton 3-2 Tottenham[LNB]Fulham 3-1 Portsmouth[LNB]Hull 2-2 West Brom[LNB]Middlesbrough 0-0 Blackburn[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]
