McLeish grateful for angel Gabriel

HEARD the one about the Englishman, Irishman, Welshman and the Scot?

At Villa Park on Saturday, you could have taken your pick of several examples of all those nationalities, and with Wigan being Villa’s opponents, there was the usualscattering of exotic players from Argentina, Honduras and Oman.

Ali Al Habsi is Wigan’s Omani goalkeeper and he was considerably busier than his opposite number Shay Given, who was only required to make two saves of note, but did so with his usual efficiency.

Al Habsi, by contrast, was in action from the start, making spectacular saves from Darren Bent, Stilyan Petrov, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Barry Bannan, before finally being beaten by goals from Agbonlahor and Bent.

The two are forming a formidable partnership as Villa climb up the table on the back of an unbeaten start in the Premier League under Alex McLeish. The former Birmingham manager has had to contend with a lot of criticism since his controversial move across the city, but Villa’s fans are starting to see the fruits of his efforts.

Having inherited a solid defence that is always well marshalled by Richard Dunne and his Welsh partner James Collins, McLeish brought in Given for a song from Manchester City. He has given his fellow Scot Bannan a chance to shine in midfield, and most importantly brought out the best in Agbonlahor, whose first-half goal on Saturday was his fourth so far, taking him past his total for the whole of last season.

“When I arrived the first thing on my mind was how to get the best from Agbonlahor,” admitted his manager.

“What pleases me is that he has shown magnificent fight to get himself into this team. He loves Villa and if I can keep improving him, I’ve got a gem on my hands.”

But he also needs kid gloves because of the back problem that will cost him a possible call-up with Bent to the England squad to face Montenegro on Friday.

“He’s been on the massage table every day and seeing the chiropractor. If he gets called up for England officially, our doctors will speak to their doctors, and I’m sure they’ll lock horns.”

Given added: “Gabby was fantastic today and I was delighted for him to get a goal and to set up the second for Benty. That will give both of them a huge lift.”

Given now returns to international duty, with Ireland’s forthcoming European Championship qualifiers against Andorra and Armenia next Friday and Tuesday. “We’ve got two big games now and hopefully something at the end of them. We believe we’ve got a real good chance.

“Russia have got to go to Slovakia, so a lot depends on what happens there, but we’ve got to take care of our own stuff. If we get six points, the worse case scenario is we finish second in the group and will probably go into a play-off but we’ve still got a chance of topping the group as well which would be fantastic.”

Dunne is crucial for both club and country, as Given knows only too well. “He is suspended for the first game, but hopefully we won’t miss him too much. He has been a colossus all season.’’

Martinez insists he has no regrets about staying with Wigan, revealing that he never considered the Villa job seriously.

“It wasn’t a case of looking elsewhere. The chairman (Dave Whelan) was very supportive and when a manager has a chance to repay that loyalty there wasn’t a decision to be made.

“For me to jump at the first opportunity when the time was not the right time for Wigan would not be right.’’

Key moment

Agbonlahor’s 36th minute goal sparked the game into life.

Terrace talk

Villa fans already believe in local hero Gabby Agbonlahor, but now they are starting to believe in Alex McLeish. Wigan fans must be wondering whether Roberto Martinez can lift them out of a four-game losing run.

Man of the match

Barry Bannan — although Gabby Agbonlahor got most of the plaudits. But Bannan pulled the strings in midfield.

Man in Black

Mark Clattenburg had one big call and, according to Martinez, got it wrong. When Franco di Santo went down under Alan Hutton’s challenge in the 53rd minute, it looked like a penalty.

Boys in green

Richard Dunne was his usual muscular self, in front of Shay Given, who had little to do until late in the game. Stephen Ireland had a rare chance to shine for Villa while James McCarthy did a sterling job for Wigan before being replaced.

Notes

Gabby Agbonlahor missed a place in Fabio Capello’s England squad due to injury.

What’s next?

A huge week of international football awaits many of the players.