Martin O'Neill celebrated his 100th game in charge of Aston Villa in style as his side thrashed Wigan Athletic 4-0 at the JJB Stadium on Sunday.

Gareth Barry opened the scoring for Villa from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute before Gabriel Agbonlahor doubled the lead 12 minutes into the second half. John Carew put the result beyond Wigan's reach by scoring a third in the 62nd minute before Steve Sidwell completed the rout with a fourth in the final minute of the game.

Villa started the game on a cautious note after a bruising game against Ajax in their UEFA Cup clash in the midweek. However it was not long before the visitors assumed control of the game and James Milner should have had put Villa in the lead after Barry flicked the ball on for the winger but the former Newcastle United player somehow managed to drag his shot wide.

The visitors finally took the lead in the 22nd minute after Agbonlahor had been fouled inside the area by Titus Bramble and Barry made no mistake from the spot. Wigan hit back immediately and almost took the lead through Paul Scharner but Brad Friedel pulled off a good save to deny the header.

Oliver Kapo should have had pulled Wigan back on level terms when he latched on to a rebound from Wilson Palacios shot but failed to hit the back of an empty net with Friedel stranded out of position.

Villa doubled the lead in the 57th minute when Carew flicked on a corner for Agbonlahor to tap in from two yards out. The England striker returned the favor five minutes later when he crossed the ball for Carew to head home from close range.

Wigan refused to give up and committed men forward, allowing Villa to exploit on a counter attack and Sidwell to convert Nicky Shorey's cross from close range to score his first goal for Villa.