English FA Premiership: Wigan 3, Aston Villa 2 Paul Jewell and David O'Leary are vastly different personalities but their mutual belief in a high-tempo, slick passing game turned what might have been an anti-climatic end-of-season affair into an enthralling evening suffused with exhilarating football.
Not that it was entirely meaningless for Villa, who could still do with a point to be absolutely safe from relegation. Yet, presumably mindful of O'Leary's patronising "I hope you stay up" pre-season comment, Jewell had clearly psyched up his recently flagging team sufficiently to ensure the visitor's Premiership record remains fairly abysmal.
Gary Cahill's defensive clearance on 25 minutes looped up awkwardly and was met by the outside of Jimmy Bullard's right boot. Struck on the volley and from outside the 18-yard area, the ball swerved into the top corner.
O'Leary withdrew his novice midfielder Craig Gardner, threw on Gabriel Agbonlahor and was soon rewarded. The 19-year-old provided a superb cross and all that remained was for Juan Pablo Angel, the Colombian striker who had been granted a rare start, to slide in and poke the ball beyond John Filan, only his third goal of a forgettable campaign.
The celebrations had barely subsided when Wigan regained the lead, Henri Camara capitalising on slapdash defending to curl a beautifully weighted shot past Thomas Sorensen. That was Camara's 10th goal of the season and he quickly claimed number 11, playing a cute one-two with Pascal Chimbonda before his shot again eluded the keeper.
If Sorensen was blameless, Filan should bear responsibility for Villa's second goal, his inexplicable fumble of Liam Ridgewell's half-volley reigniting the contest only for Angel to miss a late chance to level.
WIGAN: Filan, Chimbonda, Henchoz, Scharner, Baines, Teale, Francis (Kavanagh 79), Bullard, Ziegler (McCulloch 81), Camara, Roberts. Subs not used: Pollitt, Johansson, Taylor. Booked: Henchoz, Chimbonda. Goals: Bullard 25, Camara 56, 60.
ASTON VILLA: Sorensen, Hughes (De la Cruz 66), Cahill, Ridgewell, Samuel, Milner, McCann, Gardner (Agbonlahor 45), Barry, Angel, Baros. Subs not used: Taylor, Bouma, Phillips. Booked: Barry, Milner. Goals: Angel 53, Ridgewell 67.
Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).
