By Ryan Ghee
October 22 2005

Aston Villa were made to rue a number of missed chances this afternoon as they succumbed to their fifth defeat of the season against this season's surprise package. Despite dominating for much of the match, The Villans failed to make the breakthrough and were left reeling as an Aaron Hughes own-goal and a stunning strike from Alan Mahon handed the Latics their third away win of the season.

Aston Villa looked for an early goal as the match got underway as Gareth Barry curled a free-kick wide of the goal after only a minute and Luke Moore drilled his shot wide of the target moments later.

Liam Ridgewell almost opened the scoring on 12 minutes as he headed just wide of the upright. James Milner provided the cross and the England under-21 defender rose well but failed to control the header.

As both teams sat back and soaked up the pressure, the game lost it's momentum but on 25 minutes, Sorensen comfortably dealt with Camara's weak effort and Bakke fired over the top from distance.

Despite all the Villa pressure, it was the visitors who took the lead as Aaron Hughes directed Henri Camara's cross into his own net after 32 minutes. The Northern Ireland international was first to react to Camara's low delivery but unfortunately planted the ball past the helpless Thomas Sorensen and into his own net.

The hosts had two great chances to level matters before the interval but Luke Moore wasted a one-on-one after 37 minutes and Filan, the Wigan goalkeeper, brilliantly denied Bakke as his deflected effort was diverted to safety.

Kevin Phillips did have the ball in the net for Villa on 43 minutes but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside.

Aston Villa came out at the start of the second half clearly looking for an immediate equaliser as Milner whipped in a dangerous cross on 48 minutes and Luke Moore headed over the bar just seconds later.

Wigan goalkeeper John Filan was in inspired form as he continued his first half heroics as he brilliantly denied Gareth Barry minutes later. The veteran goalkeeper got down to Barry's powerful left foot drive and skillfully pushed it wide for a corner as Villa desperately searched for a way back in to the match.

With Villa exposed at the back, Camara almost doubled Wigan's lead but Thomas Sorensen pulled off a superb double save to ensure that the defecit remained at just one goal.

Villa continued to push forward in the final half hour but a combination of poor finishing and top-class goalkeeping from Filan ensured that they remained behind.

With only eight minutes remaining, Kevin Phillips looked set to equalise but he headed straight at Filan after a dangerous cross from Steven Davis.

With Villa desperately searching for the elusive goal, the Latics caught them on the break and Alan Mahon, filling in for the suspended Lee McCulloch, wrapped up the points with a splendid first-time piledriver from distance.

With ten games gone already this season, Villa find themselves languishing in a lowly 15th place in the Premiership table and if the performances do not improve quickly, it will be long, hard season for David O'Leary's men.