Wigan Athletic 0 v Manchester City 1: match report

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 - 1 MANCHESTER CITY

Monday, January 16 20:00

Premier League

DW Stadium

Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Wigan Athletic and Manchester at DW Stadium on Monday Jan 16, 2012.

Winner: Edin Dezko's goal was enough to ensure Manchester City took three points against Wigan Photo: ACTION IMAGES

This was winning ugly. This was the type of gritty, defensively resolute display that title campaigns are built on. If Manchester City’s players find themselves on an open-top bus in May with the Premier League trophy on the dashboard and a song on their lips, they will look back warmly on events here not for aesthetic reasons but for three Premier League points and one of the psychological variety.

City had found themselves assailed with questions in recent weeks, with critics wondering whether they ­possess the stomach for the fight. The league is not the adrenalin dash of a successful Cup run. The league involves relentless endeavour, 38 games of concentration and strong nerves.

The old canard of “how will they cope with a cold January night in Wigan” was thrown at City. And they answered it. Roberto Martínez’s side threw everything at them, particularly late on. They dealt with it. When the excellent Victor Moses started running at them, Joe Hart and Joleon Lescott stood firm.

City’s victory, their first on the road in the league since fireworks were lighting up the sky, was achieved without some famous names, absent through injury, suspension or Africa Cup of Nations’ duty. Missing luminaries from Mario Balotelli to Yaya Touré, Micah Richards to Vincent Kompany, City found inspiration from other quarters.

Edin Dzeko scored, heading in his first goal since that Nov 5 win at Loftus Road. Gareth Barry was outstanding in central midfield, making some crucial interceptions when Wigan attempted to whip up a storm.

Telegraph.co.uk

Villa end Wigan hoodoo Aston Villa 2 - 0 Wigan

Aston Villa claimed their second win of the season and remain unbeaten as they finally defeated Wigan at Villa Park. Gabby Agbonlahor opened the scoring before providing the second for Darren Bent to seal the points in a comfortable 2-0 win.

Draw specialists Villa finally turned one point into three as they recorded their first Premier League victory over Wigan at home and only their second win in 13 games against the Latics.

Villa were ahead at the break thanks to Agbonlahor's dynamite strike.

Barry Bannan's delightful long ball found the run of the striker and he cut inside Gary Caldwell and then outside, before lashing his explosive right-foot effort past the helpless Ali Al Habsi into the roof of the net for his fourth of the season.

The visitors thought they should have been awarded a penalty midway through the second half when Franco Di Santo claimed he had been felled by Alan Hutton's clumsy challenge but referee Mark Clattenburg waved away appeals.

And Villa soon doubled their lead when Agbonlahor showed tremendous pace to race away from James McArthur and Emmerson Boyce before his low cross found Bent hanging at the back post to slot the ball home for his first goal in four games.
Threaten

Villa were the first to threaten with Agbonlahor making a powerful run but his eventual shot was deflected into the hands of Al Habsi.

A deep ball into the Wigan box from Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov was headed by Bent into the path of the lively Agbonlahor but he was unable to keep his shot down.

Bent seized on a mistake by Mohamed Diame and teed up Stephen Ireland whose shot was deflected wide in a promising start by the home side.

Wigan skipper Gary Caldwell became the first player to be booked after 19 minutes after appearing to catch Agbonlahor with an elbow.

Bent connected with the resulting free-kick from Bannan but he could not keep his header down.

Bent was looking sharp and it needed a fine save from Al Habsi to keep Villa on level terms.

Bannan's pass over the Wigan defence was chested down by Bent, but Al Habsi blocked his powerful close-range volley.

Good play by Agbonlahor allowed Ireland a free run at the Wigan area but he scooped his shot over the bar.

It came as no surprise when the impressive Agbonlahor put Villa ahead after 36 minutes.

Warnock won possession and found Bannan whose ball over the top was seized on by Agbonlahor. He turned inside Caldwell before lashing a powerful shot past Al Habsi from 15 yards.

Wigan tried to retaliate and a mistake by Fabian Delph almost gifted them an equaliser. Victor Moses was able to free Di Santo whose low cross-shot flashed inches wide of the far post.

Same vein

Agbonlahor began the second half in the same vein as the first and almost doubled Villa's lead within 60 seconds.

A mazy run took Agbonlahor past Boyce, Watson and James McCarthy and his curling shot beat the dive of Al Habsi but flew inches wide.

Villa were in command and it needed a desperate block from Caldwell to keep out Bent's low shot after Delph had created the opening.

Wigan had claims for a penalty rejected after a challenge by Alan Hutton on Di Santo.

But Villa were soon back on the offensive and Al Habsi produced another excellent save to keep out Bannan's curling 20-yard drive at full stretch.

Agbonlahor was a constant menace and after 62 minutes he created the second goal for Bent.

He made a 50-yard run down the left flank before sending over an inviting centre which Bent side-footed past Al Habsi into the corner of the net.

Al Habsi made another excellent save to fingertip Petrov's fierce drive around the post.

Villa keeper Shay Given was called into meaningful action for the first time in making a double save to deny substitute Shaun Maloney and Di Santo.

Source: www.skysports.com

Aston Villa v Wigan preview

Aston Villa will be hoping to extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season when they come up against a Wigan side on a three-match losing streak.

Villa have been in consistent form during the early part of the campaign to take up a place in the top half of the table but manager Alex McLeish will feel it could have been even better.

They came within seconds of securing victory against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road last weekend, only for Richard Dunne to score his ninth own goal in the Premier League in stoppage time.

It was Villa's fourth consecutive draw and McLeish will now be determined to return to winning ways at home to the Latics on Saturday.

McLeish has been boosted by the news that several key players are set to be fit, with on-loan Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas in contention to make his debut after recovering from a thigh problem.

Record signing Darren Bent has shaken off a groin injury, while fellow striker Emile Heskey is also in the frame after a recent hamstring setback.

Carlos Cuellar, Chris Herd and Eric Lichaj remain sidelined, but McLeish will give a late fitness test to defender James Collins who suffered an ankle knock against QPR.
Charles N'Zogbia is set to line up against his former club after sealing a switch from Wigan during the transfer window, despite making a slow start to his time at Villa and admitting he would rather play on the right wing than the left.
Wigan news

Roberto Martinez has backed the Frenchman to come good but will be hoping it does not happen this weekend, as the Latics look to maintain an impressive recent record at Villa Park.

Martinez was targeted for the managerial role at Villa over the summer but opted not to go anywhere as he felt he could take the Latics further.

Wigan's impressive start to the new season has unravelled somewhat following three straight defeats, although they have not lost four in a row since October 2008.

The 2-1 loss to Tottenham last time out left Martinez's men 15th in the table on five points, but they can draw level with Villa by winning in the Midlands.

Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce is close to a recall having recovered from the hamstring problem which has kept him out of the last two league matches.

His return would be welcome as Steve Gohouri is suspended having been sent off against Tottenham last week.

Fellow defender Antolin Alcaraz (thigh) and striker Hugo Rodallega (knee) are unavailable.

Possible starting XIs

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Petrov, Delph, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Bent.

Wigan: Al Habsi, Van Aanholt, Boyce, Caldwell, Figueroa, Watson, Gomez, McCarthy, Diame, Moses, Di Santo.

Source:www.skysports.com