It's only a few short months ago since Thomas Sorensen was earning notoriety as the main dissenting voice of Aston Villa.

But times have changed for Villa's Danish international goalkeeper, as is only to be expected given the effect Martin O'Neill has had on the place since coming in to pick up the pieces following David O'Leary's departure.

When Sorensen's superb first-minute save at the JJB Stadium on Sunday proved sufficient to inspire Villa to another good away point against in-form Wigan Athletic it said everything about the new mood of soaring confidence and general contentment running through the club.

Such was the mood of discontent under O'Leary by the end, prior to the Irishman's ill-advised attempt to play games of political in-fighting, that perhaps the appointment of any new manager would have had a positive effect. Villa have certainly had their fair share of luck this season in losing only once in 13 Premiership matches. But it's still clear that O'Neill has brought something that was missing to the place. As far as Sorensen is concerned, there's not a bad word to be said about this Villa boss.

"He has not actually changed that much," Sorensen said, "other than he has instilled confidence. In football, confidence is more or less everything, and he simply gave people the belief that we can do it.

"Last season the belief was lacking. We looked at the fixtures and we couldn't see any winnable games but now we feel we can win all of them. That's confidence.

"At Wigan on Sunday, we probably didn't deserve a point but we got away with one. Last season we'd have lost that game."

Indeed, Villa did lose there last season. Against a Wigan side with tails up after four successive wins, they might have been on course for a repeat had Sorensen not made his point-blank reflex save from Lee McCulloch in the opening minute. Even the Dane himself said that it was a key moment.

"We needed it," he said. "If we had conceded early on, it could have been a very difficult afternoon.

"If we had gone behind after a minute then it would have been a disaster, especially with the way we started. But it kept us in it, helped us maintain that belief and, as the game wore on, we got closer.

"For most of the game they were the better team and we were second best in most of the tackles. But, as the game went on, we grew a little. And it keeps our run going, just one defeat in 13 now.

"That's a hell of a start, although there are too many draws. There have been games we should have won but in general we're pleased. If you are taking points in every game then it will definitely keep us up there. And, after last season, we have to be happy with this."

The big question now has to be just how much better can Villa become if O'Neill is backed to the extent that is expected in January.

"Hopefully we'll sign a few more players in the transfer window," Sorensen said. "And, if we can get to that point and we're still up there, then we'll be in with a good chance.

"Europe's a long-term goal, and there's still a lot of games to be played, but why not? We've taken four points from two difficult away games, we're still up in fifth and now we've two home games coming up against Middlesbrough and Manchester City, so hopefully we can make the most of them."

Stilyan Petrov is expected to be a contender for Sunday’s home match against Boro after a scan confirmed no lasting damage to his strained hamstring.