Martin O'Neill will be delighted that his side are three goals up without relying heavily on Ashley Young to create opportunities as he has for most of this campaign so far.

The game is really drifting towards an anti-climax now having looked to be a close match until that quickfire Villa double that took the fire out of the home side.

A surging run from Martin Laursen as he sprints the length of the pitch but fails to pick out Agbonlahor who is furious at not being fed in for his second.

Ashley Young intercepts the ball in midfield and runs at the Wigan defence before seeing his curling effort well saved by Kirkland.

Some of the Wigan fans have had enough for the day as they begin to stream out of the stadium with their side looking dead and buried for the afternoon.

Another chance goes begging for the hosts as Friedel denies Zaki before it drops for De Ridder who again snatches at the shot and slices wide - their finishing has cost them today.

It seems Wigan's luck is out as De Ridder's corner is headed firmly goalwards by Bramble again but Friedel makes a superb diving stop to tip it over the bar.

In saying that Koumas whips a free-kick into the box and Bramble dives in to meet it and glance fractionally wide of the far post.

Before the break this scoreline looked highly unlikely as Wigan dominated for long periods but in this second period Agbonlahor has used his pace to tear the home side's defence to shreds and Wigan look deflated.

The away side are settled down now and immediately look comfortable enough to throw men forward from midfield as Young hits a low drive into the arms of Kirkland.

Clever effort from Koumas as the ball drops to him on the edge of the box and he attempts to use the adverse conditions to bemuse Friedel who takes no chances as he gets his whole body behind the ball.

Bad news for Martin O'Neill as Gareth Barry goes down with an ankle problem and he is going to have to come off now.

The weather has taken a dramatic turn for the worse in the last few moments as the rain lashes towards the ground adding to the gale force breeze that has been blowing all afternoon.

Wigan are trying to press on early in the second half and put Villa under pressure but the visitors are sitting deep for now and trying taking the sting out of the game.

There are going to be two minutes of added time.

Good running from Agbonlahor as he allies strength to his customary pace to beat Scharner and smash the ball across that Kirkland does well to gather at the first attempt.

Wigan have been in charge since Villa took the lead but the away side are starting to come back into it as the break approaches and Young has a half-chance on the volley that he snatches at.

Superb football from Villa on the break as Reo-Coker and Barry switch it for Young who dances round Boyce before his cross is inches away from finding Milner at the far post diving in.

Luke Young is treading a tightrope after that earlier booking and he flies through on Kapo now and referee Jones resists the temptation to book him once more.

Wigan are dominating the ball at the moment and Villa are possibly a little fortunate to be ahead on the overall balance of play but Wigan have not taken their chances so far.

Amr Zaki has been very quiet so far today and he starts to drop deep towards midfield to get involved in the game but that means he is well clear of the danger areas.

Rasping effort from long range by Palacios that is too hot for Friedel to handle but Kapo is their for the rebound, however his finish is woeful as it slices wide.

Once more the game has slowed down with Villa happy to contain Wigan and look to spring on the counter attack with the pace of Young and Agbonlahor.

The atmosphere has picked up at long last here and the game has started to liven up too since that Barry penalty - fingers crossed it lasts.

Kapo delivers a wicked swerving ball into the box for Scharner but Friedel makes a stunning save to push it wide and Villa eventually clear their lines.

Penalty to VIlla! Barry feeds the ball through and Agbonlahor uses his pace to bemuse Bramble who trips the England Under-21 striker and the referee points to the spot.

After picking up for a few minutes the game has drifted back into a stop-start affair with no real football being played by either side.

Another clear opening for Wigan as Heskey marauds down the right hand side to cross for Kapo in the box who smashes over from 10 yards.

Still goalless at the quarter-hour mark with both sides struggling to create from open play but looking dangerous at set-pieces - Martin Laursen for Villa is causing plenty of havoc.

Both these sides are well known for their threat from dead-ball situations and it comes as no surprise that the best openings so far have all come from corners and free-kicks.

For the first time in the game Wigan force their way forward to win a corner and Heskey is free at the back post to meet Kapo's kick but heads disappointingly wide of goal.

Finally the first attempt on goal arrives as Laursen knocks down Young's free-kick for James Milner who fires the half-volley just wide of the target.

Still it is the Villains attacking brightest in the opening stages with Nicky Shorey bombing round the outside of Ashley Young on the overlap causing a nuisance of himself.

Good early pressure from the away side as Ashley Young beats Emmerson Boyce before trying to find Agbonlahor but Scharner rises highest to head clear.