Wastson wastes Wigan's best chance! Melchiot beats Luke Young and finds the midfielder in the box but Watson leans back and fires well over the bar.

Another chance goes begging for the hosts as Heskey gets to the byline and finds Agbonlahor at the far post who nods back for Barry but the midfield man can't keep his volley down.

Almost a late sting in the tail from the Latics! Koumas rounds Cuellar to get to the byline and he fires it across for Mido who is just inches away from making the contact required to find the net.

Villa are throwing absolutely everything at Wigan at the moment but Steve Bruce's side just seem to be able to deal with it all, one way or another.

Wigan's last ditch defending has been superb because Villa have created enough openings to win this game three times over but still they cannot actually score.

Stunning defending! Milner cross is flicked on by Heskey for Agbonlahor with an empty net but Figueroa slides in to get his shin in the way of the shot and it ricochets over the cross bar.

Mido and Rodallega have not had a touch for quite a while now as Wigan struggle to get themselves into attacking positions.

Somehow Wigan survive again! Petrov squares it to Carew, his effort is cleared off the line and then Luke Young's follow up is also battered away off the line by a combination of three defenders.

Can Villa take advantage of this strange situation? Or will Wigan manage to once again crowd them out?

What drama! Barry bends a superb cross into the box towards Milner but Figueroa comes across to take it off his feet but Kirkland then collects the ball and the ref awards an indirect free-kick in the box.

How have Villa not scored? Milner's free-kick causes all sorts of problems in the box and it rattles around in the six-yard box and somehow Wigan manage to force it clear.

Wigan have lost their last three games away from home but at the moment they look like holding on to avoid defeat here which would be a massive blow to Villa's hopes.

Luke Young launches a hopeful long ball forward but Agbonlahor is alive to it and tries his luck on the half volley but its high and wide again.

Wigan are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment as Villa really take control - the midfield battle is falling the way of the home side for now.

Villa are really going for this now then with Heskey moving out to the left but in reality the Villains have a 4-2-4 formation now.

It's really livening up now, at both ends! Mido hustles Cuellar out of possession in a dangerous position and tries his luck from range that Friedel gathers.

Off the post! Zat Knight meets Barry's free-kick and his header beats Kirkland but this time the post comes to Wigan's aid.

The game is vastly improved in this second period as Wigan are going for goals themselves now they have two in attack.

Wonderful touch by Rodallega who brings down a high ball and turns Davies in one movement and the young centre-half hauls him to the ground.

Villa want a penalty! Milner runs to the byline to swing it across for Agbonlahor but it hits Bramble and immediately they all go up appealing for a penalty - but the referee says not.

Gabby Agbonlahor has not been able to use his pace too much to trouble the Wigan backline today but he has a go now at the outside of Boyce who makes a wonderful sliding tackle inside the box.

Good start from Wigan after the break as Rodallega and Mido combine well for the Egyptian to fire wide from the edge of the box.

What a save! De Ridder delivers a dangerous cross into the far post where Maynor Figueroa arrives to power a header at goal but Friedel does brilliantly to turn it over.

People have suggested that Villa are not as comfortable when sides sit back and let them come onto them and that suggestion appears to be gaining more credence today.

Villa have suddenly upped the tempo and Barry feeds it in for Agbonlahor who turns Bramble in the box and forces a fine save from Kirkland again.

Milner collects the ball on the left and curls towards the penalty spot where Heskey is waiting but his header is straight at Kirkland.

Another lull in proceedings and Martin O'Neill will want to get his side in at the break as they simply have not played with enough tempo - however Steve Bruce will be pleased.

Villa seem to be missing the invention of Ashley Young today as he completes his three-match ban.

That small burst from Wigan has knocked the Villains out of their stride a little and suddenly they are having a few problems getting Agbonlahor and Heskey into the game.

What a chance! Scharner's clever dummy lets De Ridder in one-on-one with Friedel and he must score but the big goalkeeper makes a superb stop.

Villa have it in the net! Milner bends a corner into the six-yard box and Agbonlahor is up to head it home but he was clambering all over Boyce and the referee cuts the celebrations short.

The home fans are making plenty of noise but the frustration levels are already beginning to grow as Milner launches wastefully out of play.

Wigan are applying good pressure on the man in possession as they begin to rush Barry and Petrov into playing it before they are ready to.

Things have calmed down a little now as Wigan have settled into their shape nicely and they seem happy to sit back and let Villa come at them.

Steve Bruce's side got off to a similarly slow start in midweek against Liverpool where they eventually stole a late point but they need to get going soon here before Villa really settle down.

Villa have definitely taken the upper hand on proceedings so far as they control the tempo with clever passing in the midfield where Barry and Petrov are dominating.

Heskey should have made it 1-0! Barry's free-kick is curling towards goal where Heskey is waiting but he doesn't get enough on his glancing header and it goes wide. What a chance!

Its a very bright opening at Villa Park as Scharner tries his luck from long range with an effort that is straight down the throat of Brad Friedel.

Great chance! Milner's corner is bent towards the six yard box where Curtis Davies rises highest but he fails to keep his header down.

Agbonlahor is the first to test a defender as he twists and turns Bramble inside before bending a cross towards Milner at the far post who fires narrowly over.

Fabio Capello is in attendance this afternoon and he will surely be keeping a close eye on the likes of Agbonlahor, Heskey, Milner and Kirkland.