Wigan Athletic 0-0 Aston Villa

Passionate, devoted, committed even soulful. That is the kind of performances that the Wigan team put in today the match today. Very much leaving where they left off two weeks ago against Bolton, its just a shame that we couldn't manage to score. Yet that came down to the strong arm of Shay Given three times saving Aston Villa.

That isn't to say Wigan had it all their own way. Ali Al Habis had to make some crucial saves as well to denial a very strong Aston Villa side, who looked to catch us with pace on the counter attack.

From the early exchanges it was obvious who the team were that won their last game. Wigan coming out of the traps looking for gain another three points, and go the ball down and played it around looking to open gaps up in what was a leaky Aston Villa defence.

Better sides will most likely have scored when Beasuejour, who was playing as a left wing back, cut a perfect ball all away across the box. Straight in front of the goalkeeper. One touch and it was a definite goal. That really set the tone for the Chileans day. Whenever he got the ball it was down the wing putting inch perfect crosses in. Non of which were met by is team mates.

That's not to say they weren't playing badly. Franco Di Santo looked like a man possessed and try as he might, he couldn't be everywhere at once. Yet he really did try to be! Is best chance would come in the second half. But he nearly manged to get the ball past Shay Given after the keeper and to run out of the box to clear a bouncing ball.

Down the other end Darren Bent was doing what he does best, and looking to get in between players. Robbie Keane the creative genius to loop the ball over the Wigan defence and the back spin to carry it to Mr Bent, yet the striker saw his effort well saved by the advancing Ali Al Habsi.

At half time, it was hard to see why it was 0-0. Both sides playing some good football. With Wigan just edging the possession over their opponents, and at times looking really threatening when Moses was able to find space and get Beasejour free down the left hand side.

The second half was a bit of a non starter at first. Aston Villa looked like they would bring the spark to the game. With the first few minutes them showing some quick passes yet they themselves found it hard to get past Gary Caldwell and Antolin Alcaraz, who were both in great form.

Yet the best chance of the game would fall to Carlos Cullear in these early minutes. The ball spinning up into the air in the box following a Villa corner. The Spaniard, who had all of the goal to aim at, saw his header acrobatically saved by Al Habsi. It would have been a harsh goal to conceded.

That seemed to spark Wigan into life. And now they seemed to move up the gear. Both James's in the center appeared to be going at 100mph. Closing any Villa player down with the ball and looking to burst forward on the attack.

Di Santo would be the next to come close. After finding himself in space in the box he turned to shoot at the near post. Three times the ball was blocked by Gardener and each time it looked suspiciously like hand ball. Yet the referee was having none of it. Just our look it not to be.

Wigan still looking for the three points pushed on and tried to turn the game. Rodallega the next to come close having come on for Gomez. His curling shot looked to have Shay Given beaten, until it just flashed an inch over the cross bar.

Darren Bent would then be stretchered off, after falling over following a challenge from Antolin Alcaraz. It doesn't look good for the striker, who could miss the friendly with the Netherlands.

Just minutes following Bent's departure Emile Heskey, on of the Villa substitutes, was allowed to get free down the Wigan left. Luckily the Wigan fans were treated to a usual Heskey effort as it blasted high and wide into the Villa fans.

Wigan best effort would come in the seven minutes of stoppage time. Franco Di Santo playing a brilliant one-two with Mohammed Diame. Franco was able to turn his marker and have a clear shot on goal. His brilliant effort was low, hard and true towards the Villa goal before Shay Givens hand pushed it away for a corner ball.

Well it was one point gained, and a clean sheet. But I have a feeling that we could have and should have done better today.

And it continues our dry home spell, of only one home win all season.