Kavanagh: Wigan will settle for Premiership survival

Aston Villa 0 Wigan 2

Paul Jewell's side have exceeded all expectations by collecting 19 points from their last seven matches after losing their opening two encounters with Chelsea and Charlton. A 2-0 win at Aston Villa, courtesy of an own goal from Aaron Hughes and a stunning strike from Dubliner Alan Mahon, cemented the Latics' place in the top six.

However, midfielder Kavanagh and the other players are keeping their feet firmly on the ground and they are aware of a run of fixtures starting next month of Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Kavanagh said: "The key to it all is starting well like Bolton did in their first season a while back. If you can do that, it's a platform to build on.

"When that happens confidence grows and the club and the fans start to get belief, but we are not going to get carried away with this situation.

"Yes, it is going well for us and people are patting us on the back and saying nice things. But in a couple of months they could be having a right go at us because we have gone into a slump.

"Even now if it was said to us 'you're guaranteed 17th place, would you take it?' then we would take it. A lot of people think that is quite defeatist but it isn't. It is a realistic fact.

"We are nowhere near being safe but we are on a good run and long may it continue. At the moment things are going well, but our target is still 17th place and anything above that will be a massive bonus. "There is an opportunity there for us to crack on, but we have got a very tough spell coming up from mid-November when we have Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man Utd."

Kavanagh, aged 31, is enjoying his first lengthy spell of life in the Premiership after being close to tears when sold against his wishes by Cardiff in March to ease a financial crisis.

However, it is a move that has worked in the favour of the Dublin schemer who, against Villa, was a major influence in the centre of the park.

He said: "I didn't want to leave Cardiff. I was upset when I left to be honest. We hadn't been paid and the club needed to get some money in pretty quickly. If they did then they would be able to pay the wages and the club would stay afloat.

"I was the one who was sacrificed. I loved it down there. I had four great years. The fans were fantastic with me. It is a family club and very much part of the community.

"But I went to Wigan with 11 to 12 games to go of last season and knew I wasn't going to get a better opportunity to get into the Premiership and I'm loving it here."

Opta Fact: Alan Mahon scored his first Premiership goal since August 2001.

Opta Fact: Villa have won just two of their last 16 home games against teams from the North-West in the Premiership.