Villa lose ground in UEFA Cup race

A second-half brace from Luis Antonio Valencia handed Wigan the win they needed to confirm their Barclays Premier League status as Aston Villa failed to keep the pressure on Everton in the battle for the UEFA Cup.

The Latics went into today’s match knowing results elsewhere could see them safe regardless of the score at Villa Park but Valencia’s double, the first deflecting heavily off Wilfred Bouma, meant survival was assured under their own steam.