When Aston Villa were comprehensively beaten at home by Wigan on the first day of the season, the notion that the Midlands club would be competing for a Champions League place would have been met with ridicule. Seven months later, however, and those ambitions are very much alive after James Milner's 10th goal of the season moved Villa to within three points of fourth-placed Spurs with a game in hand.
For Wigan the table makes much more depressing reading. Roberto Martínez's side, who looked anything but relegation candidates at Villa Park in August, remain four points adrift of safety. The home team more than played their part in an absorbing contest last night but their frailties were once again exposed on a night when James McCarthy put through his own net in farcical fashion and Chris Kirkland blundered for the second Villa goal.
With this fixture having major implications, the natural assumption might have been that a cautious game would unfold. Instead Villa and Wigan tore at each other from the outset, contributing to a highly entertaining match that yielded numerous chances at either end of the pitch. Indeed the only surprise was that come the interval both teams only had a goal apiece to show for their efforts.
Villa looked particularly menacing on the counter-attack, although their breakthrough owed nothing to explosive pace and everything to good fortune. There seemed little danger when John Carew headed Stewart Downing's centre across goal and towards the far post but McCarthy, evidently oblivious to the absence of Villa shirts nearby, stuck out a boot but instead of hooking clear as he had hoped, toe-poked the ball into his own net.
There was a collective gasp around three sides of the ground before the Villa fans at the opposite end realised what had happened and celebrated a goal that is sure to appear on one of those DVDs that showcase gaffes. The visitors' jubilation, however, proved ephemeral as Wigan drew level within two minutes with a goal that had Martin O'Neill cursing on the touchline, after Gary Caldwell eluded Richard Dunne and glanced home Charles N'Zogbia's inswinging free-kick.
Before that point Wigan had looked the more dangerous of the two sides, Maynor Figueroa twice striding forward from the left-back spot and propelling shots from distance that gave Brad Friedel cause for concern. The Villa goalkeeper also had to be alert to get behind a low drive from Hugo Rodallega after the Colombian's control and quick feet allowed him to take down N'Zogbia's cross before wriggling clear of James Collins and fashioning an opening.
Villa, however, finished the first half the stronger and three chances in the space of six minutes prior to the interval should have delivered a second. Twice Carew came close, the Norwegian backheeling wide at the near post before shooting against Kirkland's legs following Ashley Young's meandering run. In between those two efforts, Young hammered the ball over from no more than six yards after Collins's flick on.
The high-tempo of the game was stil evident after the restart. Within seconds Marcelo Moreno went agonisingly close to putting Wigan in front with a low, curling shot that slipped inches wide of an upright. Back came Villa, Stephen Warnock seizing possession on the left flank and flighting an inviting cross towards the corner of the six-yard box that Young glanced narrowly over the angle.
Villa were, however, beginning to crank up the pressure and in the 63rd minute Wigan buckled. Young's floated corner ought to have been dealt with by Kirkland but the goalkeeper flapped and Mohamed Diamé could only help the ball on to edge of the area, where Milner waited with intent. One swing of the right boot later and the ball had travelled through a clutch of players before nestling inside the stranded goalkeeper's near post.
Wigan rallied and Rodallega had reasonable claims for a penalty when Carlos Cuéllar bundled into him from behind. Wigan continued to probe but the Premier League's most parsimonious defence held firm in the face of a barrage. With home fixtures against Wolves and Sunderland to come, Villa now have an excellent chance to chase down those above them.
