csconstantine.com

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) - Ashley Young struck a fine equalizer in front of England coach Fabio Capello to give Aston Villa a 1-1 Premier League draw with relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

England winger Young beat Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi from 20 yards (meters) - his ninth goal of the season - to cancel out Wigan’s lead at Villa Park.

The visitors scored after 10 minutes when Victor Moses burst forward from midfield and played in striker Charles N’Zogbia, who found the corner of the net with an angled shot.

The point left Wigan fourth from bottom, one point above the relegation zone, with two games to play. Blackpool, in 18th place, was playing later Saturday.

Villa is in 14th, seven points clear of the bottom three, and should be guaranteed top-division survival.

Wigan face bottom club West Ham United next weekend in a game that will have a major impact on both teams’ hopes of retaining their Premier League status.

“When you are in this position you cannot rely on anyone, just yourselves,” Wigan’s manager, Roberto Martinez, said. “The game against West Ham is a final in a league campaign.”

Villa’s former England striker Emile Heskey was fortunate not to be sent off after making contact with referee Mike Jones after 33 minutes. Heskey lost his composure after not winning a free kick and appeared to barge into the official, but he escaped with a yellow card and was substituted at half-time.

Both sides had chances to win it in the second half.

Hugo Rodallega’s shot in the 77th minute flashed just wide of Brad Friedel’s post, and then Al-Habsi blocked well from Darren Bent late on.

Labels: Aston, SportsTicker, Villa, Wigan