Past results:
Wigan Athletic Aston Villa 1:2
29-12-2007
Aston Villa Wigan Athletic
1:1 09-04-2007
Wigan Athletic Aston Villa 0:0
19-11-2006
Wigan Athletic Aston Villa 3:2
18-04-2006
Aston Villa Wigan Athletic
0:2 22-10-2005
Team news from BBCSports:
Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg is in danger of missing his Villa Park farewell against Wigan through illness.
The Swede joins Juventus this summer but is a doubt, while Craig Gardner is also struggling with a thigh strain as Villa push for a top-five finish.
Emile Heskey is expected to recover from an ankle injury to start the game.
Ryan Taylor is set to fill in at right-back for captain Mario Melchiot, who has joined Erik Edman on the sidelines with a groin problem.
# Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg:
"The fans have always been fantastic towards me and I will always be grateful for the support they have shown towards me.
"I'll always remember that reception I got after the derby win. That game with Blues has always meant a lot to me and I know what it means to the supporters.
"Hopefully I can finish at home with a win against Wigan and it would be important for Villa if they can overtake Everton and achieve European football."
# Wigan manager Steve Bruce:
"It's all about how you accumulate those points over the season - a point here and a point there always stands you in good stead.
"We might need one or two more points but I think we're capable of that.
"Whether it be at Aston Villa at the weekend or at home to Manchester United next weekend, if it has to be."
Aston Villa (from): Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Young, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Agbonlahor, Carew, Harewood, Salifou, Routledge, Berger, Taylor, Maloney, Osbourne
Wigan (from): Kirkland, Taylor, Scharner, Boyce, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Palacios, Koumas, Bent, Heskey, King, Sibierski, Skoko, Pollitt, Aghahowa, Bramble, Figueroa, Hagen, Olembe.
Steve Bruce has done a great job at Wigan, when he took over there was an air of desperation about them but he has now made them very difficult to beat and he has a platform on which to build for next season.
Mathematically, Wigan could still go down but I think they are safe, regardless of the result at Villa Park. Aston Villa's home form is very good and they've been scoring a lot of goals so I'm going to go for a Villa win.
Victory for Aston Villa would see them leapfrogging Everton into the Uefa Cup qualifying fifth spot. The Toffees play away to Arsenal on Sunday. Then the season ends with Villa at West Ham, and the Merseysiders, home to Newcastle.
Wigan need a victory to cement their Premier League place for next season, but they've won only once on the road all season.
Both these clubs are on four-match unbeaten runs; Villa have picked up 10 points out of 12 from three wins and a draw - Wigan six points, from one win and three successive draws.
stake: 10/10
picks: 1
odds: 1.55
bookmaker: Bet365
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