DIAMOND geezers.

The finely cut 4-1-2-1-2 formation might not always sparkle as brightly as it did on Saturday, in more distinguished company than Wigan.

Gems Gabby Agbonlahor and Barry Bannan might not always catch the light as spectacularly as they did in the October sunshine at Villa Park.

But Alex McLeish’s diamond geezers were crowd pleasers and appeasers as the claret and blues finally unearthed a winning formula after a run of four straight Premier League draws.

Agbonlahor is a shining example of how, with time, the rough edges can be smoothed off even the rawest of raw materials.

The Brummie striker has never looked more polished than he does now. Agbonlahor is becoming the complete player.

Even more excitingly, the vast improvements to his all-round game have not come at the expense of his explosive pace.

Gary Caldwell simply couldn’t keep up with him when he burst down the left, cut inside and smashed in his fourth goal of the season with his right foot to score Villa’s deserved breakthrough goal on 36 minutes.

And the Latics defence were similarly outstripped for the second on 62 minutes when he dispossessed James McArthur on halfway and accelerated to the byline past Emerson Boyce before crossing accurately to Darren Bent.

Agbonlahor also curled an exquisite effort inches past the post after a piercing run through half of the Wigan team and rattled the bar with an audacious swirling, inswinger from the right wing.

All of this with a back problem which requires a visit to a specialist today and a period of rest during the international break.

England’s loss is very much Villa’s gain. A diamond like this should be kept safely in the box to avoid damage.

McLeish revealed that ‘loving’ Agbonlahor was the secret to the striker’s success this season. On this form, what’s not to love?

If Agbonlahor was the king of hearts, Bannan was the ace of diamonds.

Villa’s diamond formation brought out the best of the Scottish playmaker.

Stiliyan Petrov was protector-in-chief in front of the usual back four, Bannan and Fabian Delph took turns to sit and go and Stephen Ireland flitted around behind the ominously effective strike duo of Agbonlahor and Bent.

Bannan plays with an assertiveness and self-assurance which belies his young age and the new system gave the 21-year-old left-footer licence to get on the ball more and showcase his range of passing.

The diamond will only be exhibited for certain visitors and despite its success on Saturday, McLeish will still think long and hard before deciding whether to take it outside Villa Park and around the country.

It appeals to the manager because it gives him added insurance of an extra man – albeit a forward-thinking one like Ireland at the advanced point of the diamond – for when Villa come up against three men central midfields.

But it would often rely on marauding wing-backs supplying the attacking width and, although Stephen Warnock and Alan Hutton are making strides after long periods of inactivity, their primary roles in McLeish’s team are as defenders.