Filed under: Aston Villa, Wigan, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Emile Heskey bid goodbye in what is likely to be his final game at Aston Villa with an indulgent lack of discipline as Wigan maintained their survival hopes.The England striker was engulfed in red mist as he barged into referee Mike Jones - in scenes harking back to Paolo Di Canio's run-in with referee Paul Alcock in 1998.
Unlike Alcock, Jones stayed on his feet and Heskey was fortunate not to be shown a red card for his aggressive and out-of-character reaction, in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello.
Heskey's first-half meltdown was a rare show of anger and passion for a player who has been criticised througout his career for failing to punch his weight.
And he may be facing further punishment from the Football Association after suggestions that he continued his protest against referee Jones in the tunnel at half-time.
That came after Charles N'Zogbia and Ashley Young exchanged goals of contrasting quality as Wigan extended their impressive record of avoiding defeat in the Premier League at Villa Park.
Heskey's histrionics resulted from what he felt was an elbow in the back of the head from Antolin Alcaraz.
Referee Jones chose not to punish the challenge as Heskey lay on the floor and the striker sprang to his feet and chased after the official before barging him with his shoulder.
The striker appeared to be enraged, despite virtually the entire Villa team trying to calm him down and was fortunate to be shown just a yellow.
Villa assistant manager Gary McAllister was left with little choice but to leave the striker in the dressing room for the second half, but Villa were unable to gain the win they needed to be sure of Premier League football next season.
They will look back on a wonderful opportunity wasted by Darren Bent seven minutes from time when he was clean through, but shot straight at Ali Al Habsi.
A Villa winner would have been harsh on Wigan, whose fans left Villa Park in confident mood they will beat the drop in the crucial fixture against West Ham next weekend.
Wigan had won three and drawn two of their previous five Premier League visits and looked right at home as N'Zogbia added the cutting edge to an incisive move.
He smashed home an angled shot, after Victor Moses set up the chance, but Wigan were unable to hang on to the lead for long before Young won and converted a free-kick 25-yards out.
TO COME: ALL THE REACTION
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/05/07/aston-villa-1-wigan-1-heskeys-meltdown-overshadows-latics-bat/
Jason Day Javier Mascherano Javier Zanetti Jeff Overton Jim Furyk
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