- Rodallega (31), Koumas (56)
- Date:2009-08-15
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Villa Park
- Attendance:35578
- Referee:Clattenburg, M
Live Commentary
93mins
The whistle blows for full time
89mins
Bramble has been on top form for Wigan today, blunting the attacking efforts of Young and Heskey in particular
87mins
Villa should have scored but Bramble makes a fantastic saving tackle to deny the Villa strikers once again
84mins
Young goes into the referee's book after a cynical foul on Figueroa
82mins
With just under ten minutes of the match remaining, Maynor Figueroa is booked for time wasting
79mins
Koumas forces another save from Friedel
78mins
Bramble is booked for Wigan
78mins
Sinclair has looked bright since coming on
76mins
Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has struggled to make any real impression today, makes way for Nathan Delfouneso
74mins
At the other end, Gomez tests Friedel with a fantastic shot from 25 yards out. Friedel makes a fingertip save to prevent Wigan from increasing their lead
72mins
Milner has a shot on goal from a free kick
70mins
Friedel makes a comfortable save from Koumas' cross
67mins
Habib Beye makes way for Marc Albrighton
67mins
Scott Sinclair comes on for N'Zogbia. Villa still look unable to break down the Wigan defence
65mins
Sidwell's first real involvement in the game sees him deliver a promising cross, which is blocked by Bramble
63mins
Milner's cross is cleared by Scharner in yet another frustrating attack from the home side
60mins
Delph makes way for Steve Sidwell as O'Neill looks to energise a Villa side badly in need of a goal
57mins
Milner's free kick comes to nothing after a bad challenge by Scharner
55mins
Jason Koumas doubles Wigan's advantage from close range after good work from N'Zogbia
52mins
A good effort from Cuellar from Young's cross goes narrowly wide
49mins
The fans are really getting behind the home side now but Villa's strikers are finding it tough
47mins
Martin O'Neill may need to consider tactical changes if Villa's poor reaction to going behind continues
45mins
The second half gets underway at Villa Park
45mins
The referee blows the whistle for half time
42mins
Delph picks up the first booking of the game after giving away a needless free kick
42mins
Friedel saves an attempt from Rodallega
41mins
The closing stages of the first half are scrappy in comparison to the fluid attacking football of the first half hour
39mins
Villa are struggling to bounce back since Rodallega's goal
38mins
Young's shot is saved by Kirkland
35mins
Hendry Thomas shoots from outside the box but sends his shot narrowly wide
31mins
Heskey concedes a free kick which is taken by Bramble
30mins
Rodallega scores an early contender for goal of the season with a stunning strike from just outside the penalty box
27mins
Villa are lucky not to be a goal down after Milner clears a scrappy effort with his knee
26mins
Kirkland takes a free kick after Heskey fouls Mario Melchiot
23mins
Brad Friedel is called into action as Gomez attempts an ambitious shot from 25 yards out
21mins
Milner tracks back to help out the Villa defence as Hugo Rodallega shoots for Wigan
19mins
Kirkland pulls off a fantastic save to deny James Milner the opening goal of the game
18mins
An entertaining clash so far, with both teams playing entertaining, attacking football
16mins
Charles N'Zogbia hits the post with a stinging attempt from just outside the penalty box
15mins
First real involvement from Emile Heskey sees the England man shoot narrowly wide
14mins
A shot from Fabian Delph, who has started the game brightly, flies over the bar
12mins
Paul Scharner sends an effort just wide of the Villa goal
10mins
Good chance for Wigan as Jordi Gomez sends in a promising free kick which is blocked by Carlos Cuellar
8mins
Petrov fires a shot from 18 yards but Bramble blocks his effort
7mins
Bramble has to be strong at the heart of defence once more, as Gabriel Agbonlahor sends a promising delivery into the box
6mins
Good effort on goal from Stilyan Petrov but Titus Bramble blocks for Wigan
5mins
A bright start from Ashley Young, whose cross is saved by Chris Kirkland
3mins
Villa Park is bathed in sunshine as the players adjust to the tempo of the opening exchanges
0mins
Referee Mark Clattenburg blows the whistle to get the match underway
Match Preview
Aston Villa open their campaign with a home clash against Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill will be hoping to wave his magic wand over the Midlands club once more after guiding them to a lofty sixth-placed finish last season.
He has been busy in the transfer market over the summer and has added the talented Fabian Delph, from Leeds United, Stewart Downing, from Middlesbrough and Habib Beye from Newcastle United and the three are excellent additions to the squad.
Villa will look to continue their development with a core influence of English players that include Emile Heskey, Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner.
Agbonlahor and Young will be aiming to cement their places in the England national team in preparation for the World Cup finals in South Africa next year and they should be looking to fire Villa to another top six placing.
Stiliyan Petrov could struggle to make the opener through a dislocated shoulder while the first weekend comes too soon for Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma, Luke Young and new signing Downing.
Wigan have gone through a transitional period over the summer after manager Steve Bruce left to join Sunderland and he has been replaced with relative rookie Spaniard Roberto Martinez, who played for the Latics in the 90s.
After leaving Swansea City to take up the role, leading striker Jason Scotland followed Martinez to the JJB Stadium and he will add guile and strength to the forward line.
Jordi Gomez has been added to the squad from Espanyol and Republic of Ireland Under-21 star James McCarthy, a recent signing from Hamilton Academical, is tipped to shine on the big stage.
Last season's contest at Villa Park ended in a goalless draw. At the JJB Stadium Villa ran riot with a 4-0 victory and they will be hoping for more of the same with.
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Match Report
Wigan's Indian sign over Aston Villa remains as strong as ever as they carved out an impressive away win to get their season off to a fine start.
Wigan have never lost at Villa Park and a first-half strike from Hugo Rodallega set them on the way to record their fifth game without defeat over Martin O'Neill's team.
Jason Koumas netted a 56th minute second to further boost Wigan, but it could easily have been a more clear-cut victory as only the post and a goal-line clearance prevented other goals.
The defeat is a serious setback for Villa and their suspect defence is in desperate need of shoring up, while the ineffectiveness of Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey up front is cause for concern.
Wigan's impressive win, carved out by some smart play from Rodellega and Hendry Thomas, only confirmed just how much Villa are going to miss the commanding presence of the departed Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry.
Wigan have invariably done well at Villa Park and under new manager, Roberto Martinez, their latest visit lived up to expectations.
At an early stage Villa made it obvious that much of their attacking play would be from the left as they provided an almost non-stop service for Ashley Young but the tactic mis-fired.
Agbonlahor and Heskey both failed to make contact with one Young cross, while Charles N'Zogbia saw his low shot pushed onto the post by veteran Brad Friedel.
Boosted by his midweek England performance, James Milner played with every confidence and had one shot brilliantly saved by Chris Kirkland from a pass set up by Young.
A few minutes later it was Milner who cleared a Rodellega shot off the line with Friedel well beaten.
The roving Wigan striker could not be denied and in the 31st minute he shook Villa Park with a long-range looping shot from the right into the far corner of the net for only his fourth goal for the north-west club.
Two minutes before the break the Colombian striker was only denied a second goal by Friedel pushing out a leg to save his shot as Villa's suspect defence again displayed their short-comings.
The writing was on the wall for Villa when Koumas collected a low, angled pass and then put the ball through Friedel's legs for Wigan's second goal.
Villa introduced teenager Fabian Delph but the former Leeds player was out of his depth in the circumstances and was replaced by Steve Sidwell as Wigan coasted home.
Aston Villa Team
Wigan Athletic Team
Aston Villa | Wigan Athletic |
Corners
| 4 | 6 |
Fouls
| 15 | 14 |
Goal attempts
| 11 | 16 |
Shots off target
| 6 | 7 |
Offsides
| 1 | 1 |
91mins
Delfouneso almost gets on the end of a cross but fails to connect