Aston Villa-Wigan Athletic FC Preview

Mar 15, 2010 - 9:11 AM JAMES PIERCY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Martin O'Neill will be looking for Aston Villa to earn maximum points at Wigan on Tuesday to help maintain his side's push for a place in next season's Champions League.

A top-four finish in the Premier League would guarantee entry into Europe's leading club competition, but Saturday's goalless draw at Stoke has left the Midlanders in seventh place - six points adrift of Tottenham, who occupy the coveted fourth spot.

However, Villa do have two games in hand on Tottenham and O'Neill still believes his side can end the season ahead of the three clubs who are currently above them in the table - Spurs, Manchester City and Liverpool.

"I thought we defended brilliantly," O'Neill said after the Stoke match. "We showed a lot of bravery, players prepared to put their bodies on the line, and I think that was epitomised on three or four occasions.

"If we get a second wind we can still go for it. We haven't lost a Premier League game since Liverpool four days after Christmas and we are just going to have to try to turn a couple of draws into wins.

"We have a game on Tuesday (at Wigan) which we are going to try to win if we can, but we set out with the ambition to win at Stoke as well."

O'Neill will have to decide whether or not to recall leading goalscorer Gabby Agbonlahor for the match at the DW Stadium. The England striker started the Stoke match on the bench after recovering for illness and came on as late substitute.

Wigan won 2-0 at Villa Park on the first Saturday of the season thanks to goals from Hugo Rodallega and Jason Koumas in what was Roberto Martinez's first game in charge of the Latics.

However, since that flying start for Martinez, Wigan's form has been erratic. They lost 9-1 at Tottenham in November and have conceded 57 goals in 29 league matches, but also recorded notable home victories against the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.

The Latic's inconsistent form has left them just above the relegation zone - four points and four places ahead Hull City who are 18th in the table.

The 1-0 home win against Liverpool on March 8 was followed by a 4-0 hammering at Bolton last weekend much to the frustration of manager Martinez.

Martinez said: "We are capable of beating anyone on our day, but we just cannot find that consistency to build on what we do achieve.

"In football, it's important to respond and take responsibility for bad results, and we can do that by showing a reaction on Tuesday. It will be a tough end to the season for all of the teams down there. Every win will be difficult to achieve, which makes this result so disappointing.

"To beat a side like Liverpool shows what we are capable of, but we have to maintain those standards every week.

"Four games in 12 days is a huge demand on the players, and results like this can happen. It happened to Bolton last Tuesday, when they lost 4-0 at Sunderland, and their reaction was very, very good.

"We have to make sure we match that reaction against Aston Villa, and we'll be looking to get rid of this feeling as soon as we can."

Wigan skipper Mario Melchiot is doubtful with a thigh injury and Emmerson Boyce could continue at right-back.