On may 2011
After a 1-1 draw with Wigan, Aston Villa moved on to 42 points, which is likely to be enough to have guaranteed top-flight survival.
Just as Villa seemed to have a foothold in the game, N'Zogbia scored a vital opener in the 10th minute for the latics.
The lead lasted just seven minutes though, with Ben Watson fouling Ashley Young, who curled a low 25-yard free-kick into the bottom left corner of Ali Al Habsi's net which should really have been palmed away to safety after the Omani got fingertips to it. It is his ninth goal of the campaign.
Villa now started to turn the screw on their lowly opponents and Heskey should have put them into the lead on 21 minutes.
Tempers flared in the 32nd minute after referee Mike Jones failed to give Heskey a free-kick after he was clattered by Alcaraz. The villain was just handed a caution for dissent.
Gary McAllister replaced Heskey with Marc Albrighton for the second period.
In the 63rd minute, Ashley Young's low cross was intercepted by Al Habsi with Bent poised to slot home.
Bent then wasted the best chance of the half in the 83rd minute after he was put through one-on-one with Al Habsi by an incisive through ball from Ashley Young.
Carlos Cuéllar was on the bench.
Match highlights: TV Golo.
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