Source: SKY_Sports
Dash in the Latics
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan AthleticSoccer Saturday analysis[LNB] Tony Cottee was left mightily impressed as Roberto Martinez's Wigan side pulled off arguably the result of the afternoon at Aston Villa.[LNB]A stunning strike from Hugo Rodellega and a second from Jason Koumas gave the Latics a comfortable win over the Champions League hopefuls, who were booed off by their own fans at the end.[LNB]It gave Martinez a winning start as manager of the club he graced as a player and, says Cottee, Wigan were every bit as good as the result suggests.[LNB]"It (the performance) did merit the scoreline," he told Soccer Saturday.[LNB]"Villa started really well and in the first 15 minutes put them under pressure but once they had withstood that early pressure they looked very comfortable, Wigan. [LNB]"They hit the post through (Charles) N'Zogbia, Rodallega had a header cleared off the line and then his goal - well, you've got to see it on Football First.[LNB]"It's an absolutely fantastic goal and is an early contender for Goal of the Season. The ball is played down the line, it's poor defending from (Nicky) Shorey, it goes over Curtis Davies' head and the ball bounces once and he's hit it on the volley, right in the top corner. He couldn't have hit it better, it was a wonderful goal.[LNB]"Wigan got the second through Koumas with a good finish and Wigan were pretty comfortable. Villa never had a shot on target in the second half despite putting them under pressure."[LNB]CompetitiveMartinez made his managerial name at Swansea, where a slick passing game won him many admirers.[LNB]And although there were signs that he has brought that with him to the Premier League, Cottee saw far more than a side who play the game the right way.[LNB]He also saw some steel and defensive resilience and a some pacey counter-attacking, which led to Koumas adding to Rodellega's absolute belter - an early contender for Goal of the Season.[LNB]"It's alright doing all your passing but you've got to have that bit of strength as well. They played Rodellega up front on his own, had five in midfield and they were very strong there, very competitive - defensively as well.[LNB]"Not only do they pass the ball well they defend well and looked very threatening on the break. Once Villa gave the ball away they broke very quickly and that was how they got the second goal."[LNB]As for Villa, they were also booed off at the break despite only trailing by one.[LNB]They enjoyed more possession after the break but failed to trouble Chris Kirkland leaving Martin O'Neill with plenty to ponder.[LNB]But as Cottee was quick to point out, Villa's failings up front were as much down to Martinez's tactical shrewdness as any striking shortcomings.[LNB]Starved"They do rely heavily on the wide players; James Milner played out on the right and Ashley Young on the left, but what Wigan did really well was double up on them, so when Ashley Young got the ball he had two, sometimes three, defenders around him," he said.[LNB]"They just crowded him out and in the end the ball never came into the box so the forwards were starved of service.[LNB]"Villa were actually booed at half-time as well, so booed at half-time and booed at full-time. In the modern game it's just frustration - it's the only way to let the manager and players know you're not happy. [LNB]"It wasn't that bad a performance, it was just losing 2-0 at home to Wigan - in a game they were expecting to win."[LNB]
