Aston Villa 0 - 2 Wigan

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Saturday May 03 2008 03:00

Luis Antonio Valencia enhanced his reputation with two opportunist goals to give Wigan Athletic a surprise away win which also ensured their Premier League survival.

The youngster from Ecuador has attracted a great deal of attention this season and has been linked with a possible move to Manchester United.

It was only Wigan's second away win in 19 games and the emphatic way they accomplished their success is a credit both the team and manager, Steve Bruce.

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland also took top honours for an outstanding performance as he repeatedly denied an out-of-form Villa side and did much to keep Wigan in contention.

But it was Valencia who took advantage of Villa's frustrating performance which was typical of several displays this season against lowly opposition.

The surprising feature of the goalless first half was Villa's inability to raise their game.

They were fully aware that a win would take them into fifth spot above Everton, but they were continually frustrated by a dogged Wigan defence and in particular goalkeeper Kirkland.

On three occasions he made saves from headers powered in by Zat Knight, Gareth Barry and Gabby Agbonlahor.

Kirkland undoubtedly kept Wigan in the game as Villa became increasingly impatient by their lack of success.Jason Koumas and Michael Brown dominated the midfield as both Nigel Reo-Coker and Stiliyan Petrov were way below their recent form.

Any hopes of a Villa revival in the second half were quickly dashed by Wigan's opening goal from Valencia after 52 minutes.

The 22 year-old winger, who always displayed the potential to be dangerous, cut in from the right and unleashed a hopeful shot on goal.

The ball took a wicked deflection off the unfortunate Wilfred Bouma and looped over the head of Scott Carson into the far corner of the net.

This was a tremendous set-back for Villa and a massive fillip for Wigan as was subsequently reflected by the Latics' determination not only to retain the lead but to increase their advantage.

Valencia was the player who put the game out of Villa's reach in the 63rd minute.Emile Heskey, who produced a good work-rate helping out defensively, headed on a ball which Valencia latched on to.

He bore down on Villa's goal and squeezed his close range shot between Carson and the near post.

Villa made a couple of substations but to no avail and skipper Gareth Barry, who was linked with Liverpool a few days ago, was unable to inspire his side to stage a comeback.

When they did threaten danger it was Kirkland who popped up to foil their efforts.

It was a sad ending for defender Olof Mellberg on his final home appearance before linking up with Juventus next season.

Live Commentary

94
The final whistle goes here, and a solid defensive display from Wigan has frustrated Villa and two strikes from Antonio Valencia has clinched all three points to secure survival. Villa will be disappointed with their effort.

91
Palacios comes off and Josip Skoko will come on to sit infront of the back four.

90
Villa have four minutes to turn this one around but it will take a miracle now.

88
Antonie Sibierski comes on to replace the hard working Emile Heskey who has really earned his money today.

88
Corner for Villa late on, it comes out to Petrov but his shot is well blocked and Koumas breaks for Wigan and they hold the ball well.

86
Emile Heskey doing well here, running the ball away from the Wigan territory and relieving the pressure on his defence.

84
A very tame shot from Marlon Harewood in the end of a rather slow Villa attack. They seem to lack that cutting edge they have had of late.

81
The Juventus bound Melberg winning the ball back from Palacios in his own box there to a round of cheers from the home fans who will certainly miss the big Swede in the heart of the Villa defence.

79
Marlon King going down in the area under the challenge of Reo-Coker but nothing given from the referee.

77
Marlon King comes on to replace Marcus Bent - A like for like swap up top.

76
A sense of frustration here as Laursen strikes a shot from way out but it troubles those in the upper tiers more than it does Chris Kirkland in goal.

72
Nothing going Villa's way in the final third - Agbonlahor getting up but the knock down falls kindly for a Wigan man.

71
Valencia finding acres of space down the right flank since Bouma has gone off - Villa may be exposed at the back in the last twenty minutes.

70
What a chance for Valencia's hat-trick, the ball through wasn't quite firm enough and as a result it didn't sit up for Valencia but Carson saved well down to his left.

70
Bouma comes off for the striker Marlon Harewood - Villa throwing everything at Wigan now.

70
Super save from Kirkland, good ball in from the right, Agbonlahor headed goalbound and it almost lobbed Kirkland but he managed to get back to tip it over the bar.

67
Almost a replica of the first goal there as Valencia strikes a shot, deflected up into the air but Carson on his line and able to gather with ease.

64
This is a disaster for Villa now, they have looked vulnerable to the counter but that goal came out of nowhere and the home fans are stunned into silence.

62
Antonio Valencia gets his second after a long clearance from Kirkland was flicked on by Heskey. The winger brought it down well and curled it past Carson at his near post with the outside of his right-foot.

62
Gareth Barry taking on a shot with his weaker right foot from the edge of the box but it can only ripple the side netting. That all stemmed from a Wigan mistake.

60
On the hour mark, Patrick Berger comes on to replace Zat Knight. A positive switch from O'Neill recognising that his hopes for European football next season hang in the balance.

60
The Wigan midfield are working hard here to deny Barry and Reo-Coker any space or time on the ball.

58
Agbonlahor skipping down the wing and whipping a ball in, no-one able to get on the end of it. Villa are looking threatening now though.

56
Villa responding very positively to the goal, looking to put Wigan under pressure and in doing so are looking vulnerable on the break.

54
Reo-Coker tosses in the free-kick but Boyce heads it away for a corner - Barry's corner is headed clear to Valenica who runs them out of trouble.

53
Michael Brown goes into the book for a blatent foul on Ashley Young taking him on down the wing. That's his eleventh of the season.

51
Against the run of play, Valencia takes on Bouma to get some space to shoot, he does but it takes a massive deflection and loops up past Carson and into the corner.

50
A good chance for Wigan to break but again Koumas' pass to Palacios is a poor one, Villa counter attack and Barry's cross looked to be going over but Kirkland forced to turn it over as it dipped.

49
Young taking on Brown down the right hand side, but he gets no change from the midfielder and his only reward is a throw-in.

47
Good break from Reo-Coker, fouled a good three times on the run, the referee tried to play advantage but in the end he has no choice but to pull the play back.

47
Steady head from Scharner, Melberg tossing in a long throw, dealt with by Scharner comfortably.

46
The second half gets underway and we all hope for an improvement on the first period.

45
The half-time whistle goes, and both managers will be wanting more from their sides in the second period.

43
Agbonlahor trying something spectacular attempting a half-volley from the edge of the box but it's a complete miskick and he is left looking rather silly.

42
Koumas gives the ball away just as Wigan looked like they were building an attack there, Villa break but the final ball in is comfortable for Kirkland again.

38
A loose back pass from Koumas gifts Villa a corner - A near post flick on almost falling for Agbonlahor but Kirkland manages to tip it onto the bar and out for another corner.

37
Bent tries his luck from a distance, fell down for him nicely but his shot goes a long way wide. The only positive from that shot was that he had the confidence to take it on, however he may think twice next time.

36
Agbonlahor robbing Palacios of the ball, a good piece of interplay between Reo-Coker and Young and it ends in a corner. Kirkland plucks Barry's corner from the air with confidence.

34
Corner for Wigan here, Koumas comes across to take this one - It's aimed in at Scharner but it breaks down for Bent leaning back and off balance he scuffs it wide.

31
Villa have a free-kick in a good position here after Young was brought down - Young curls it in but it is easily cleared, as it came back in, John Carew tried an acrobatic strike but the big striker's gymnastic skills desert him and it goes well wide

30
Marcus Bent caught out there, he had options right but he took too long on it and Petrov tackles back at the striker.

28
A great chance there for Villa but the shot from Carew was dragged well wide of Kirkland's goal. This game needs someting to spark it into life.

26
A great stop from Kirkland, a high hanging ball in met by Gareth Barry who appeared to just hover in the air - A good header stopped by an equally good save.

24
So far, a bit of a scrappy display from both sides, some nice midfield play but both sides lacking composure in the final third.

20
Zat Knight bursting onto a high ball, a strong header forces a good save out of Chris Kirkland. The first chance of note so far.

15
Free-kick tossed in towards the back post, headed clear by Knight, put back into the mixer and it almost fell for Koumas to shoot but a great tackle denies the Welshman.

11
Great bit of pace shown by Agbonlahor, breaking down the left side but Palacios and Boyce double up on the young winger and a goal kick is the result.

10
Nice passage of passing from Wigan but good Villa defending means they only get a throw in.

9
Good piece of covering by Bramble, read the bounce well and headed it clear for a throw in after a long ball in had decieved Scharner.

6
The first shot of the game, Michael Brown winning the ball in a very forward position, but his shot was very feeble just trickling to Carson.

5
Villa comanding possession at the moment, Wigan will want to get a foot on the ball soon or risk going behind early.

3
Stand in skipper Kevin Kilbane making a mistake, his clearance being charged down and it almost broke for Agbonlahor but Scharner recovers possession.

2
Almost a moment of panic for Wigan as a quick throw in catches Scharner out but Bramble covers the mistake quickly and clears.

0
Today's referee Rob Styles gets this one underway.

0
Bruce is forced into one change, Titus Bramble coming in for the injured captain Mario Melchiot. Wigan have the boost of Heskey being declared fit after doubts over whether he would play in the week.

0
O'Neill names an unchanged side after their game against Everton last time out, with 17 goals in their last four games Villa are on form coming into this one.

0
Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Bramble, Scharner, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Palacios, Koumas, Heskey, Bent

0
Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma, Young, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Carew, Agbonlahor

0
Wigan have made incredible progress since Steve Bruce came to the JJB, a win today will secure their place in the Premier League next year. However, Wigan are without a win or a defeat for that matter in three games.

0
Aston Villa will hope for a win with Everton making the tough trip to the Emirates. Only three points behind the Toffees Villa could be in fifth going into the final day.

0
Hello and welcome to Villa Park! Today's game will impact on both the relegation battle and the race for that elusive Uefa Cup spot.

Statistics

Aston Villa

Shots on target	5
Shots off target	9
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	7
Offsides	2
Corners	8

Wigan

Shots on target	5
Shots off target	4
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	8
Offsides	0
Corners	2

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