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Saturday August 15, 2009 Finished Villa Park

0 - 2

Aston Villa

Wigan Athletic

  • Rodallega 30’
  • Koumas 55’

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  1. Wigan win at uninspired Villa

    Wigan win at uninspired Villa

    A stunning strike from Hugo Rodallega helped Wigan Athletic to a 2-0 win at Aston Villa in the Premier Lague. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Aston Villa
    • Wigan Athletic
    • 90+3' The final whistle goes, and it's a winning start to Roberto Martinez's Premier League management career!
    • 90+1' Koumas and Rodallega come off and Cho and Scotland come on as Wigan look to run down the clock.
    • 89' A mistake from Bramble and Heskey runs on to the loose ball int he box! Kirkland slides out to claim the ball but can't keep hold of it and Heskey plays it back to Young who must score... Bramble recovers and dives in to deflect the shot over the bar!
    • 88' Villa break forward again and Young is running at full pelt through the middle, but Scharner is on hand to put in a well-timed challenge that wins the ball and sends him flying!
    • 86' Villa surge forward as Wigan begin to leave gaps, and Young has plenty of time to deliver a telling cross but, for once, his delivery is poor.
    • 83' Now Figueroa goes into the book for wasting time.
    • 81' Jason Koumas has a pop from outside the area, but Friedel is equal to it.
    • 80' Heskey is fouled pretty ruthlessly by Bramble, and the Wigan defender goes into the referee's book.
    • 78' Good chance from Sidwell for Villa with a free header, but it's wide of the target.
    • 77' Nathan Delfouneso comes on to replace Agbonlahor, who has been a spectator for much of this game.
    • 75' Jordi Gomex bursts forward now and fires a low strike that Friedel does well to get down to and tip round the post! Great save!
    • 75' Sinclair curls another inviting ball right across the face of goal, but no one is there to get on the end of it.
    • 73' Villa earn a free-kick for that obstruction, and Milner will take it. He curls the shot over the wall, but also way over the bar.
    • 72' Young has really been in the wars this afternoon; now he goes clattering right into Thomas as he tries to pass him. Both men are down on the ground.
    • 70' Wigan are starting to dominate again. Sinclair sprays a lovely cross-field ball out to Koumas, who fires a low ball across the face of goal but it's blocked by a Villa defender.
    • 68' Changes for both sides here: Beye is replaced by Marc Albrighton for Villa, while Scott sinclair makes his Wigan debut in place of N'Zogbia. Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, has now turned out for seven different clubs at the tender age of 20.
    • 67' Rodallega uses his pace to good effect to get the better of Shorey. Melchiot goes down under a challenge from the left-back but the referee gives a goal kick.
    • 66' Villa pour men forward but Bramble heads Young's cross clear for a throw. The home side really do look short of ideas in attack.
    • 63' Milner slides in and hauls down N'Zogbia in midfield. The Frenchman hobbles off for treatment. There have been a few tasty encounters in this game actually, even if this does not look like the most hot-tempered fixture on paper.
    • 62' Villa have been seeing more of the ball in the last few minutes, but Wigan have not been unduly concerned.
    • 60' We are treated to a brief glimpse of Steve Sidwell's angel wings tattoo that he has across his as the midfielder gets ready to come on. It will be Delph who makes way.
    • 58' Scharner impedes Young as they both go for a header, and Villa have a free-kick.
    • 56' GOAL!! Charles N'Zogbia bursts forward from his own half before feeding Jason Koumas who fires low to beat Friedel from an acute angle and double Wigan's lead! That was all too easy for them.
    • 54' Confusion in the Wigan box as Figueroa and Scharner tangle with Agbonlahor, and the ball almost runs loose for Heskey before Bramble can hack it clear!
    • 53' Villa earn a corner on the right. The ball goes over everyone and to Young on the left. His excellent cross is lofted to the far post for CUELLAR... headed wide! He should have at least made Kirkland make the save there.
    • 50' Michael Brown goes into the back of Ashley Young as the winger receives a throw-in! Young is fuming, and gets up to have a go at Brown. Referee Clattenburg lets Young vent his frustration at him to calm down, and we can continue without any cards being shown.
    • 49' Villa look a lot more together at the start of this half, playing the ball around with more confidence, although Petrov does eventually rescind possession.
    • 47' Young attacks Melchiot down the left again but trips over the full-back's feet as he skips behind him. The Villa winger looks in some discomfort as he goes of for treatment.
    • 46' Villa kick off the get the second half underway.
    • 45+2' That's the end of the first half, Hugo Rodallega's stunning effort proving the difference between these two side.
    • 45+1' Milner goes for the old-school 'knock it one way, run round the other' move past Scharner, but Bramble gives chase and intercepts.
    • 45' The fourth offical signals two minutes of added time.
    • 44' Koumas bends in another dangerous looking cross that skips just too far in front of Rodallega.
    • 43' Great chance Rodallega! The goalscorer does bbrilliantly to control and diagonal ball on his chest and toe-poke a shot that Friedel saves well with his feet.
    • 42' Thomas is sent tumbling off the pitch by Milner! It's just his pride that has been injured though.
    • 40' Bramble fouls Heskey. Villa are struggling to create much from open play at the moment.
    • 39' Young curls in a lovely shot that Kirkland has to tip behind at ful stretch! Wigan are able to clear the corner.
    • 38' Thomas is judged to have obstructed Agbonlahor, and Villa have a free-kick in a good position, to the left of centre.
    • 36' Gomez fouls Delph in the centre circle. It's played short and the ball finds its way to Milner, who turns awkwardly as he tangles with Figueroa. He's up on his feet and playing on though.
    • 35' Wigan on the attack again and N'Zogbia tees up a strike for Thomas, but his shot from the edge of the box is wide.
    • 34' Henry Thomas will have a go at shooting from the free-kick, even though it's fully 40 yards from goal. The Honduran's shot goes high into the stand!
    • 33' Rodallega skips across the midfield but limps out of a challenge with Petrov and goes down. He's receiving treamtent now on the pitch.
    • 31' GOAL!! Nicky Shorey can't get enough of his head to a long ball and it sits up nicely for Hugo Rodallega to strike a thunderous half-volley from way out past Friedel!! A great start to Roberto Martinez's Premier League tenure!
    • 30' Instead, Scharner plays it short to Melchiot who runs right into trouble and loses the ball.
    • 29' Davies fouls Gomez and Wigan can deliver a ball in from deep here.
    • 28' Jordi Gomez chases after a neat reverse pass from Rodallega, but Habib Beye and Cuellar deal with it between them.
    • 27' Heskey looks pained after being challenged in industrial fashion. He is ok to play on however.
    • 26' Cuellar tries the shield the ball out for a throw under pressure from Koumas, until the ball stops dead on the line! The Villa defender gets himself out of trouble well though.
    • 24' Ashley Young tries to get the better of Melchiot again, but this time the Wigan full-back is not fooled by the England winger's tricks.
    • 23' Wigan are beginning to edge ahead in terms of play and possession here. They are certainly winning the battle in midfield.
    • 21' Villa ride their luck at the next Wigan corner, with several shots blocked and a half-hearted shout for a penalty thrown into the bargain!
    • 20' Rodallega tries to steer an errant shot on target and it's deflected behind for a corner. The Colombian has looked lively so far.
    • 19' Milner has the space to fire a decent shot from 25 yards out that Kirkland beats away with two hands!
    • 17' Wigan attack again and Hendry Thomas's low strike beats Friedel beat rebounds off the far post!
    • 16' Titus Bramble outdoes Heskey tenfold as he is found with his back to goal on the edge of the Villa box, and his shot on the turn sails into the crowd near the corner flag.
    • 15' Heskey pounces on to a loose ball and brings it forward. Agbonlahor is in support but he side-foots from the edge of the area and the ball rolls harmlessly wide.
    • 14' Ashley Young almost winds his way through two men on the wing, but Melchiot makes the tackle. The ball runs loose for Delph to strike... swiped high and wide by the debutant.
    • 11' Wigan have a free-kick. It's in a central position but quite far out. Jordi Gomez will strike... the low effort clips off the wall and rolls behind for a corner.
    • 10' Rodallega looks to scamper away into space but is felled by a well-timed tackle from Curtis Davies.
    • 9' Quite a subued start to this game, with both sides taking time to ease into the match. Petrov goes for a strike from distance, but it doesn't make it through.
    • 7' Heskey goes tumbling as Scharner beats him to the ball at the byline, and looks pretty miffed when the referee indicates a goal kick.
    • 6' Heskey and Agbonalhor leap to try and glance the long diagonal ball past Kirkland, but they are flagged up for offside.
    • 4' Emile Heskey makes his presence felt, and is penalised for the foul by referee Mark Clattenburg.
    • 3' Nice build-up play from Wigan here, as they string several passes together through the midfield before N'Zogbia is tackled by Shorey.
    • 2' Milner works well down the right to get his cross in, but the ball is headed clear.
    • 1' Wigan kick off to get this one underway.
    • 14:59 The players are out on the pitch, and they and the fans give a warm minute's applause in tribute to the late Sir Bobby Robson.
    • 14:50 Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has backed highly-rated winger Ashley Young to come good on the international stage for England. O'Neill tips Young for the top
    • 14:45 Wigan's season-opener at Aston Villa will mark the start of a Premier League dream for new manager Roberto Martinez. Martinez in dreamland with Wigan
    • 14:40 Jason Scotland, another former Swans star, had be content with a place on the bench as Martinez elected to play just one striker - Hugo Rodallega getting the nod to lead the line.
    • 14:35 Latics boss Roberto Martinez also handed full debuts to two new recruits, Honduran midfielder Hendry Thomas and Jordi Gomez, who played under the new manager at Swansea last season.
    • 14:30 Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor started up front, meaning a place on the bench for John Carew.
    • 14:25 Midfielder Stiliyan Petrov was passed fit to start after recovering from a dislocated shoulder and was named as captain.
    • 14:20 Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill hands full debuts to new signings Fabian Delph and Habib Beye for today's Barclays Premier League opener at home to Wigan.
    • - Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Brown, Thomas, N'Zogbia, Gomez, Koumas, Rodallega. Subs: Pollitt, Edman, Cho, Scotland, Sinclair, Boyce, King

  • Summary

    • 89' A mistake from Bramble and Heskey runs on to the loose ball int he box! Kirkland slides out to claim the ball but can't keep hold of it and Heskey plays it back to Young who must score... Bramble recovers and dives in to deflect the shot over the bar!
    • 75' Jordi Gomex bursts forward now and fires a low strike that Friedel does well to get down to and tip round the post! Great save!
    • 56' GOAL!! Charles N'Zogbia bursts forward from his own half before feeding Jason Koumas who fires low to beat Friedel from an acute angle and double Wigan's lead! That was all too easy for them.
    • 54' Confusion in the Wigan box as Figueroa and Scharner tangle with Agbonlahor, and the ball almost runs loose for Heskey before Bramble can hack it clear!
    • 53' Villa earn a corner on the right. The ball goes over everyone and to Young on the left. His excellent cross is lofted to the far post for CUELLAR... headed wide! He should have at least made Kirkland make the save there.
    • 43' Great chance Rodallega! The goalscorer does bbrilliantly to control and diagonal ball on his chest and toe-poke a shot that Friedel saves well with his feet.
    • 39' Young curls in a lovely shot that Kirkland has to tip behind at ful stretch! Wigan are able to clear the corner.
    • 31' GOAL!! Nicky Shorey can't get enough of his head to a long ball and it sits up nicely for Hugo Rodallega to strike a thunderous half-volley from way out past Friedel!! A great start to Roberto Martinez's Premier League tenure!
    • 19' Milner has the space to fire a decent shot from 25 yards out that Kirkland beats away with two hands!
    • 17' Wigan attack again and Hendry Thomas's low strike beats Friedel beat rebounds off the far post!

Live Team Line-Up

  • Aston Villa

    Manager: Martin O'Neill

    Captain: Stilian Petrov

    Starting line-up

    • B. Friedel
    • H. Beye Substitution Out (68′)
    • C. Cuéllar
    • C. Davies
    • N. Shorey
    • S. Petrov
    • F. Delph Yellow Card Substitution Out (60′)
    • J. Milner
    • A. Young Yellow Card
    • E. Heskey
    • G. Agbonlahor Substitution Out (76′)

    Subs

    • N. Reo-Coker
    • C. Gardner
    • N. Delfouneso Substitution In76′
    • M. Albrighton Substitution In68′
    • B. Guzan
    • S. Sidwell Substitution In60′
    • C. Clark

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Wigan Athletic

    Manager: Roberto Martinez

    Captain: Mario Melchiot

    Starting line-up

    • C. Kirkland
    • M. Melchiot
    • T. Bramble Yellow Card
    • M. Figueroa Yellow Card
    • P. Scharner
    • H. Thomas
    • M. Brown
    • C. N'Zogbia Substitution Out (68′)
    • J. Gómez
    • J. Koumas Goal Substitution Out (89′)
    • H. Rodallega Goal Substitution Out (90′)

    Subs

    • M. King
    • E. Edman
    • E. Boyce
    • S. Sinclair Substitution In68′
    • M. Pollitt
    • J. Scotland Substitution In90′
    • W. Cho Substitution In89′

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

Comment 14 - 33 of 93

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Ha! jtmcollins you are an epic fail of a man.

    From The Northerner, on Sat 15 Aug 3:36PM

  2. gooooooooooooooooooooooooal cmon wigan lets take em­ apart.

    From Audrey, on Sat 15 Aug 3:35PM

  3. wigan 1-0

    From joy4mer, on Sat 15 Aug 3:34PM

  4. wtf?????????????Wigan = EPIC FAIL OF A­ TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From JAMES, on Sat 15 Aug 3:33PM

  5. Typical comment from **ck head, just a reminder richard­ the season does not end today it starts and one game­ does not make a season.............villa will lose a­ damn sight more than they win ok and villa do not have­ the fire power to score 7 if heskey ever gets into­ double figures in a season, you might finish in the top­ half but dont hold your breath
    from steve in wigan.

    From Steve H, on Sat 15 Aug 3:24PM

  6. come on the villa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From JAMES, on Sat 15 Aug 3:23PM

  7. com on wigan gd gAME tday hope we win 3 amegoes wigan­ 2 - 1 villa

    From tonyk1ng, on Sat 15 Aug 3:04PM

  8. comment 7 richard whats the other name that is used­ for richard, oh i remember @#$% with comments like­ yours the name suits.

    From Audrey, on Sat 15 Aug 2:02PM

  9. Villa will be no where near as good as the team they­ were last season. Laursen and Barry gone, the nucleus­ of the team, it doesn't look good for them. As­ things stand, the defence isn't too great, it's­ on a par with the likes of Hull City, Blackburn. Beye,­ Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Bouma, Young, all decent but­ nothing special. Friedel behind them is the only gold­ standard player. Midfield, Young and Milner are top­ draw, both could get a game for a top 4 club. Petrov,­ Reo Coker, Sidwell are all adequate holding mids, the­ problem is the playmaker role, the Barry role, getting­ forward, getting them goals. Delph looks like he has­ tremendous potential, but I feel central midfield will­ aswell as central defence is where Villa will be found­ out. Aagbonlahor, Carew, Heskey, Delafouneso up top­ looks excellent, good balance.
    Ideally, Villa need a­ top centre back, someone with expierience, Dunne,­ Campbell, Turner. And a creative central midfielder,­ Danny Murphy, Van der vaart. 7th place for me.

    From Prince Edward B, on Sat 15 Aug 1:43PM

  10. Aston Villa 0 Wigan 2!!! Co'mon you Wiganers!!!

    From davegostelow, on Sat 15 Aug 12:55PM

  11. villa 1 - latics 3, come on wigan lets stuff the­ brummies

    From wafc4life, on Sat 15 Aug 12:45PM

  12. EUROSPORT WHERE THE HELL DID THE TEAM LINEUPS GO?

    From matteos.maserati, on Sat 15 Aug 9:22AM

  13. EUROSPORT WHERE THE HELL DID THE TEAM LINEUPS GO?

    From matteos.maserati, on Sat 15 Aug 9:22AM

  14. Villa 0- 0 Wigan

    From jakrthorn555, on Sat 15 Aug 8:32AM

  15. who is goal keeper?

    From HOTKOKO, on Sat 15 Aug 5:57AM

  16. But I can't see Agbonlahor on the field......:-(­ Heskey and Carew??

    From Mark T., on Fri 14 Aug 3:44PM

  17. villa-2-1-wigan

    From george_minkowski, on Fri 14 Aug 1:07PM

  18. 4-1 villa

    agbonlahor 2
    young
    heskey

    From Edward, on Tue 11 Aug 3:24PM

  19. geddon you janners

    villa fan from Plymouth

    From sam.andrews91, on Sat 8 Aug 12:06PM

  20. Troika.
    Wouldn't rely too much on alphabetical, the­ blue noses are third and that IS a joke.

    From dohboy53, on Sat 8 Aug 7:40AM
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