Latics midfielder James McCarthy side-footed John Carew's clever cross into his own net to give Villa the lead, but under-fire Gary Caldwell equalised within minutes when he headed home Charles N'Zogbia's free kick.

Both sides had chances to win in a match which was end-to-end, but it was Milner who struck on 63 minutes to keep Villa's Champions League hopes alive.

In an exhilarating first half, it was Maynor Figueroa who struck the first shot with an effort which flew over the Villa bar.

The returning Gabriel Agbonlahor then poked the ball home on 13 minutes, only to be denied by the assistant's flag, before another long range Figueroa effort had Friedel scrambling across to tip the ball past the post.

At the other end, Chris Kirkland was slow to react to a Carew effort which drifted wide and Hugo Rodallega was next to try his luck with a shot that Friedel saved comfortably.

Kirkland then reacted quickly to tip a mishit Stewart Downing free kick over the bar, but when the hosts' defence failed to fully clear the resulting corner, the luckless McCarthy inexplicably side-footed Carew's dinked ball into his own net.

Villa's lead lasted only two minutes.

McCarthy redeemed himself when he won a free kick and Caldwell popped up to glance home N'Zogbia's superb delivery.

Rodallega then came close to giving the home side the lead only to be denied by James Collins' block and Young should have tested Kirkland with a thunderous strike from the edge of the six yard box which cleared the stadium.

As a breathless half came to an end, Kirkland saved with his legs to deny Carew before Milner's mishit volley flew wide.

The second half looked set to continue in the same vein as the first when Wigan's Marcelo Moreno hit the side-netting and Young headed over from a difficult position.

Collins then came close to giving the visitors the lead only to see his effort cleared with Kirkland beaten, but the visitors were not to be denied.

Kirkland mishandled Young's corner and as the Latics' defence failed to clear the danger, Milner fired through a sea of players to put Villa ahead.

Agbonlahor tested Kirkland as Villa looked for a third, but Wigan were far from out of the contest as Moreno immediately forced Friedel into a save at the other end.

As the hosts desperately looked for an equaliser, Latics' sub Paul Scharner mishit his shot and when Mohamed Diame missed his kick from a good position with two minutes remaining, Villa ran the clock down.as they continue to eye the Champions League, while Wigan are left looking nervously over their shoulder.

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