Gareth Barry expects away record to be put to the test

Dec 28 2007 By Bill Howell

GARETH Barry has warned Aston Villa of the threat posed by Wigan to their fine away record.

The incredible 4-4 draw at Chelsea, achieved with penalty king Barry's injury time spot-kick, stretched Villa's unbeaten away run to seven matches and made it just one defeat on their travels since February.

But Barry believes Wigan will be just as hard a nut to crack as Chelsea having been given a new lease of life under Steve Bruce.

"We went into the Chelsea game with the pressure all on them and not on us, but it will be a bit different tomorrow," he said. "Expectations from our supporters are high now whenever we play away because results this season, apart from at Manchester City, have been excellent.

"We have shown alot of character in games. When we have fallen behind we have dug deep and got the rewards. We've got a lot of pace in our side and away from home we have been good at playing on the counter-attack.

"Playing away has suited our style and we enjoy going to grounds and taking teams on."

Wigan have taken seven points from their last three matches with impressive wins over Blackburn and Newcastle and an away draw at Fulham.

Barry is expecting Villa to be pushed to the limit.

"They've responded to the new manager and are producing some excellent results, which have suprised a few people, and they have now moved out of the bottom three, which will have lifted the whole place," he added.

"They've got alot of quality in the squad with people like Emile Heskey and Jason Koumas and they are battling for their lives.

"It really was a terrific win for them against Newcastle and any team that can put five past Blackburn obviously carry a goal threat.

"We will once again have to be at our very best, but we are also playing with alot of confidence and it promises to be good game."

Villa boss Martin O'Neill must decide whether to switch Barry to left-back with Wilfred Bouma struggling to make the Wigan game with an ankle injury picked up in the dying minutes of the Stamford Bridge draw.