Aston Villa 0 Wigan 2: IT WAS never going to be quite the same after the departures of Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen this summer, but not even the most pessimistic Aston Villa supporter could have imagined things would be this bad.

The home team were booed off at the interval and full-time following a dreadful performance at Villa Park on Saturday.

This was the perfect start for new Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, whose influence was there for all to see as Wigan troubled Villa throughout with their neat passing and fluid movement.

Villa’s defending was suspect in the lead up to the opener, when a poor Nicky Shorey header and a gaping hole between Cutis Davies and Carlos Cuellar encouraged Hugo Rodallega, who had already had an effort cleared off the line, to spear a wonderful 25-yard volley over Brad Friedel.

So in control were Wigan that it was difficult to believe this is a club which has lost Wilson Palacios, Lee Cattermole, Emile Heskey and Antonio Valencia since the turn of the year.

Jordi Gomez’ intelligent run had helped to create the space for Wigan’s second goal after Charles N’Zogbia was given the room to run at the Villa back line before setting up Jason Koumas.

Guardian Service