Martin O’Neill’s surprise at the way his side capitulated in this lethargic and weary display was presumably nothing to the amazement of the Villa Park faithful.
After all, expectancy had filled the air on the very first day of a new season. Judged on this performance, it will be a long hard season, with 37 league games still to go, countless domestic cup games and a European run – form permitting.
In the end, goals from Hugo Rodallega and Jason Koumas were the definitive factor but Wigan, under Spanish master manager Roberto Martinez, might have scored far more, had it not been for a couple of fine saves from Brad Friedel.
Villa, on the other hand, floundered in midfield with young Fabian Delph finding himself catapulted from League One to the top flight in one fell swoop. The defence, however, were surely the root cause of the problem.
Manager O’Neill surely won’t need the boos from the home fans to remind him that he needs to strengthen his back four as a priority.
“We looked tired, which was a bit of a surprise,” admitted O’Neill afterwards. “We were poor and the fans were disappointed. The fact the fans booed us is my responsibility.
“If they pay their money, they are entitled to criticise us the way they see fit.”
The Northern Irishman had actually seen his side start brightly for 15 minutes, with James Milner buoyant after his cameo appearance in England’s senior side in midweek.
But with John Carew a last-minute casualty after injuring himself in the warm-up, Villa lacked a clinical finisher in midfield while the loss of Gareth Barry was evident and the absence of the retired Martin Laursen left a gaping hole at the back.
Wigan themselves were learning to cope without Antonio Valencia and Lee Cattermole following the latter’s last-minute switch to Sunderland and were managing well, with Rodallega testing Curtis Davies as early as the 16th minute.
Martinez commanded proceedings from the sidelines in a manner as slick as his new suit and soon had his team firing on all cylinders, with Rodallega giving them the lead on the half-hour.
Nicky Shorey could do nothing as his mis-timed header deflected the ball right into the path of the Colombian, whose sweet right-footed volley had Friedel beaten. It was a fine moment for the Wigan striker who had changed into his “lucky boots” seconds before kick-off.
Villa might have had a lifeline minutes later when Ashley Young sent a perfectly curling free-kick goalbound but former West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Chris Kirkland just managed to palm it safely away before Wigan upped the ante again, leading their hosts a merry dance with a display which left the home fans baying for blood at half-time.
Even the words of O’Neill at the break did little to rejuvenate the home side in the break, although Steve Sidwell did make an impact when replacing young Delph; Stiliyan Petrov, however, looked lost without two confident midfielders at his side.
On 53 minutes, Gabby Agbonlahor looked for a route through only to be closed down by two defenders – his dismay underlining Villa’s sorry afternoon.
Then Wigan were 2-0 up after a fine diagonal solo run from Charles N’Zogbia who found Koumas unmarked. The former Baggies man slid the ball under Friedel from ten yards.
Villa debutant Marc Albrighton did give them a shot in the arm after making his senior debut appearance in the 68th minute, while young Nathan Delfouneso impressed minutes later when his pass almost set Emile Heskey on his way.
But when Heskey himself found a way to get back to his feet after a slip as he tried to capitalise on an error by Titus Bramble, you sensed it wasn’t Villa’s day.
His recovery and cross found Young, but the England winger was only able to fire the ball skyward and over the bar.
ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Friedel, Beye (Albrighton, 68), Davies, Cuellar, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Delph (Sidwell,61), Young, Agbonlahor (Delfouneso, 77), Heskey.
WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, N’Zogbia (Sinclair, 68) Thomas, Brown, Koumas (Cho, 89), Rodallega (Scotland, 90), Gomez.
ATTENDANCE: 35, 578.
