Valencia fires Wigan to safety

A second-half brace from Luis Antonio Valencia handed Wigan the win they needed to confirm their Barclays Premier League status as Aston Villa failed to keep the pressure on Everton in the battle for the UEFA Cup place.

The Latics went into the match knowing results elsewhere could see them safe regardless of the score at Villa Park, but Valencia's double clinched a 2-0 success and meant survival was assured under their own steam.

Villa had much the better of the first 45 minutes, but their lack of precision in the final third could cost them dear in the race for fifth place.

It was also a disappointing result for Villa stalwart Olof Mellberg, who was passed fit after a bout of illness to make his final appearance at the ground before his summer move to Juventus.

Zat Knight had a good chance in the first half when he met Ashley Young's curling free-kick at the far post, but he could not hit the target.

Gabriel Agbonlahor was then guilty of scuffing his left-footed shot.

After 33 minutes Wigan's Jason Koumas whipped in the game's first corner and after Wilfred Bouma failed to clear, Marcus Bent fired wide from close-range.

Agbonlahor then saw his close-range header tipped onto the crossbar by Chris Kirkland in the aftermath of another messy corner.

But it was the away side who took the lead after the break. Valencia took what looked to be an ambitious punt at goal and his shot ballooned off Bouma's foot and flew agonisingly over the stretching Scott Carson.

The momentum stayed with Steve Bruce's side and when Emile Heskey's neat header released Valencia, it was soon 2-0. Two good touches took the Ecuador international clear of Nigel Reo-Coker and he beat Carson with a fierce shot at his near post.