Wigan 0 Aston Villa 0 - match analysis

Life's a pitch for Villa at the moment.

It wasn't just the poor quality of the playing surface at DW Stadium which may have contributed to Darren Bent's ankle injury that will be a source of angst for Villa boss Alex McLeish.

The star striker fell awkwardly on the soft turf and suffered an ankle injury which forced him to leave the ground on crutches and the length of time on the sidelines should be determined by a scan today.

But it was the reaction of Villa's away fans to a modest performance against a Wigan side who have not won at home in 11 matches dating back to August (and you thought Villa's home form was bad) which is arguably of greater concern for the Scot.

For the first time away from Villa Park McLeish was the target of the ire of the vast majority of travelling supporters who vented their spleen at an average display.

Undoubtedly it is a concern, and a surprise, that the usually balanced, informed and even-minded contingent who comprise the claret and blue army on the road felt it necessary to be so vociferous in their critique of their manager.

At home Villa have not been good enough, no doubt about it, and the fans have not shied away from letting McLeish know with a string of chants questioning his ability to manage the side. However, this was the first time that the away fans have openly expressed their anger in such numbers and when a manager loses their backing it becomes a worry.

And with the loss of Bent it looks like things might get worse before they get better. For the time being Villa fans are just going to have grin and bear it.

Despite the venom from the terraces, pre-match protests and the partisan feelings of the social networks there is an unwavering support for the current incumbent of the Villa Park hot-seat from the club's hierarchy.

Like it or not, the Villa boss at the end of the season – barring a spectacular collapse – will be Big Eck. Whether his side end up flirting with a relegation battle or finish in the safety of mid-table will be largely determined by the outcome of games such as these. Defeat here would have been a disaster but, in the context of the table, it was a point gained as the cushion between themselves and the bottom three moved to eight points.

McLeish made three changes from the side which lost 1-0 to Manchester City as he persisted with a 4-4-1-1 formation with Robbie Keane, on his farewell appearance, in behind Bent.

Gabby Agbonlahor was back in the starting line-up after injury and with Stiliyan Petrov absent with a thigh problem, the forward took the captain's armband.

Stephen Warnock came in for Richard Dunne while Barry Bannan was handed a place in the centre of midfield with Emile Heskey left on the bench.

Wigan knocked the ball round crisply in the first half but it was Villa who went closest when Keane threaded an exquisite lofted through-ball with the outside of his boot over the Wigan defence for Bent to run on to. The England international pulled the trigger from the edge of the box but Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi had already come off his line to narrow the angle and blocked Bent's shot.

Villa should have broken the deadlock moments after the break when Bannan's free-kick picked out the head of Carlos Cuellar but Al Habsi was in the right place to make a comfortable save.

Things got worse for Villa, though, as Bent went off on a stretcher after he attempted to get out of the way of a tackle by Antolin Alcaraz and fell awkwardly.

Keane was denied a shooting opportunity shortly after when he brought down a difficult ball in the penalty area only for Emmerson Boyce to nip in to block.

For the remainder of the contest it was Wigan who looked the most like to score.

A brilliant piece of play by Mohamed Diame set up Hugo Rodallega but the Wigan striker's curling effort on the turn went just over the crossbar.

Wigan should have gone ahead five minutes later when Gary Caldwell's cross from the left was chested by Victor Moses into the path of Rodallega but his shot went straight at Shay Given who pushed a Franco Di Santo's shot past the post late on.

Villa saw off the late pressure and all that remained was the predictable boos aimed in the direction of McLeish at the final whistle.

By Timothy Abraham