Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Legion]

We're in 2nd place at the moment.

[midnite]

If only we'll still be there come may 2014

[PeterWithesShin]

Am I the first one back to Brum form Wigan? Was another quality awayday with the Villa.

[PeterWithesShin]

As for the match, showed the best and worst of both sides really. Both played some lovely stuff, both were at times awful. A few of our players looked knackered towards the end.
Was quite amusing seeing the steady stream of Villa fans heading into our end after we scored. The flares were great, until some knobber lobbed one on the pitch. Still, 5 Villa goals and 4 points from my 2 aways, can't argue too much with that.

Thanks again to Leeg and Mr Sox. Top blokes and much appreciated.

[AV82EC]

Oh and quite like the new chant....

I don't care about Wigan
They don't care about me
All I care about
is AVFC

[Chris Smith]

Didn't bother watching or listening to the game, I've felt relaxed about staying up since Sunderland and as it turned out we went past Wigan's final total that night. Although I did get sent a picture of Sid outside the Last Orders.

Our form has been decent over the final third of the season and we're only 5 points off 9th place. Keeping the significant players happy and a few additions of similar quality should see us easily top half next season and, with a little luck, perhaps even higher.

Enjoy the summer everyone.

[Rigadon]

All's well that ends well.  Have a good summer everyone.

[VILLA MOLE]

Thats it for another year, I have watched all season on a dodgy stream but if any Villa fan subscribes to Sky next season hang your heads in shame, spunked themselves over Fergie, Beckham, Carragher and even played 20 games in 20 years the Newcastle goalie Harper about retiring and did not once repeat did not once mention Petrov, they are a fucking disgrace

True, but I guess a player's career ending due to leukemia just isn't interesting enough for Sky Sports...

yes its just not sexy is it?

[eamonn]

Typical end of season nothing to play for fare.  However well done to the never ending procession of bellends who come to our last away of the season, can't hold their drink and behave like a bunch of neanderthal morons.  Anyway well done to Villa for conceding in the 19th minute applause rather than scoring and a great big farewell to Stan Petrov.  See you all in August when hopefully we've strengthened and can start to move up the table. 

Bah humbug!

[eastie]

Paul Lambert paid Villa's vociferous support the ultimate compliment after the 2-2 draw with Wigan, insisting they had been a "major catalyst" in inspiring the players in their survival bid.

Lambert was once again quick to hail the fab fans who came in their numbers - 3,895 to be precise - to scream the team on at the DW Stadium.

Lambert said the number of fans in attendance and the noise they made from the stands was tremendous.

But he went a stage further, insisting that the camaraderie between fans and players and their support for the team in the tough games over the winter helped get the team over the line.

He said: "The fans have been brilliant. I'd like to thank them.

"They have been incredible for us, including through the hard festive period when they might have turned on the team.

"But they stuck with it.

"It's easy for a crowd to turn on you if you're not getting results.

"Being a young side it can have an adverse effect on them.

"But they never once got on our backs. They kept with it.

"I think they have been a major catalyst to the way we have been playing and performing.

"They can see what we are doing.

"The club is in a transitional period but the effort and performances over the last three, four, five months has been fantastic.

"We have been playing really well and we need to take that into next season.

"We want to keep progressing the football club with the philosophy of the way we're playing. We will keep driving it on."

Lambert accepted it's been a "really hard season" but said he's enjoyed it thoroughly.

He continued: "It's been really hard but I have loved it.

"It's been great pressure. It's a high-pressure job being manager of this football club with the size of it. But I have loved it.

"It's in a transitional period as I have said. But we have developed it. We have got better and better. I think it's there for everybody to see. The biggest yardstick is that crowd."

As for the game itself, Lambert said a draw was a fair result.

He added: "It was entertaining and really open. I thought it was a really good game.

"Full credit to the lads. We kept going and never gave up. A draw was probably a fair result.

"It was a great goal from Darren. You're replacing Benteke who has been in extraordinary form.

"But that's Darren all over. He's a goalscorer.

"Benteke has had one of those seasons where he's done nothing wrong. He's not been injured or suspended except today. He's scored at every turn.

"He's the highest scorer in 2013 other than Ronaldo and Messi so you can't drop someone who's playing like that.

"It's been hard for Darren. I am sure he will say the same.

"But I thought he played really well and he scored which everyone knows he's capable of doing.

"But it's not about one player for me. It's about the whole team and every one of them were excellent."

[peter w]

Baker is not shit.

I agree. What we clearly need is agood back-up for Benteke.Wecouln't get our usual attacking momentum going. still scored twice, though.

[peter w]

Thats it for another year, I have watched all season on a dodgy stream but if any Villa fan subscribes to Sky next season hang your heads in shame, spunked themselves over Fergie, Beckham, Carragher and even played 20 games in 20 years the Newcastle goalie Harper about retiring and did not once repeat did not once mention Petrov, they are a fucking disgrace

Jeff Stelling mentioned that one of the nice touches of the day was seeing Stan on the Villa bench with the coaching staff.

You can always trust jeff.

[eastie]

Thats it for another year, I have watched all season on a dodgy stream but if any Villa fan subscribes to Sky next season hang your heads in shame, spunked themselves over Fergie, Beckham, Carragher and even played 20 games in 20 years the Newcastle goalie Harper about retiring and did not once repeat did not once mention Petrov, they are a fucking disgrace

They mentioned petrov more than once and I will spend my money how I want thanks !

[Matt Collins]

I've given the side lots of praise of late, and there's plenty of promise. But I just watched the highlights on ESPN goals and I have to say I'm not sure our defence has improved over the season at all. We won't avoid a repeat of this seasons struggles unless we improve both individually and as a unit. It's just complete bedlam back there half the time.

[johnboy]

I finally got the result and score right.