Martin O'Neill has hailed the contribution of Olof Mellberg despite Aston Villa losing 2-0 to Wigan in the Swede's final game at Villa Park.Latics goalkeeper Chris Kirkland ensured the first half of Saturday's Premier League clash remained goalless with a string of important saves before Ecuador winger Luis Antonio Valencia fired a second-half double - the first with considerable assistance from Wilfred Bouma - to spoil Mellberg's Villa Park send off.

The 30-year-old has put in seven loyal years since arriving for £5million from Racing Santander in 2001 and, judging by the number of replica shirts, banners and chants which greeted his final home appearance, he will remain in the memories of Villa supporters for many more to come.

He was almost robbed of the chance to say goodbye to fans - something he did at length at the end of the match, signing scores of autographs outside the ground for good measure - by a midweek bout of illness.

But he was passed fit and put in one of the most assured performances in an otherwise lacklustre showing from Villa.

A new challenge now awaits Mellberg, who joins Italian giants Juventus in the summer, but he goes with O'Neill's best wishes.

"Olof has been fantastic for this football club," said the manager.

"For seven years, he has been terrific. I've known him for two of those and, for the second, he has played out of position (at right-back) all year.

"But he has never complained, he's got on with it and now he goes to Juventus where he will play centre-half, so he'll probably be delighted.

"I think the crowd showed their appreciation of him and I share that."

But the former Celtic boss could not hide his frustration at a performance which saw his side become only Wigan's second away scalp of the season.

That the first was a Derby side destined for the worst points tally in Premier League history merely adds salt to the wounds.

The result also deprived Villa of the chance to exert some pressure on Everton in the battle for fifth place - and a spot in next season's UEFA Cup.

O'Neill said: "This was a real opportunity to finish on a high - the last day at home, a big crowd coming in with high expectations and we failed to deliver.

"I'm very, very disappointed. We could have put severe pressure on Everton, but we failed."

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