Titus Bramble's bullet header was cancelled out by two second half Villa goals

Titus Bramble's thunderous header from a Ryan Taylor corner handed Latics a vital lead after 27 minutes against Aston Villa. But the West Midlands club staged a second half comeback and scored two goals themselves to take all three points back down the M6.

The conditions at the JJB Stadium were wet and windy, and there were plenty tackles in midfield for referee Howard Webb to marshall, but both teams were committed to the cause. Villa demonstrated how dangerous their pacey attack can be with Gabriel Agbonlahor in their side, but Latics were well organised at the back and snuffed out pretty much everything the West Midlands club threw at them to gain a first half lead.

But Villa boss Martin O'Neill must have blasted his players at the interval, as they came out in the second half and were soon in the ascendancy, and in the end two headed goals from Curtis Davies and Gabriel Agbonlahor meant Latics lost in the league for the first time against Villa.

After a bright start for Latics, Taylor's volley was blocked by Olaf Mellberg for Villa to concede the corner. Taylor's resulting corner was headed in like a hammer by the former Newcastle man Bramble.

But Villa got back on level terms ten minutes after the restart after Curtis Davies headed in from Gareth Barry's corner, despite Denny Landzaat's best efforts to clear away from the line.

Villa completed their renaissance on 70 minutes with a slick move that started with Nigel Reo-Coker in midfield, who threaded a long through ball into the penalty box to substitute Luke Moore who back-heeled to Ashley Young. The former Watford man then shimmied past his marker before his cross was headed in at the near post by Agbonlahor at an acute angle leaving Chris Kirkland with no chance.

Although Latics lost the match, they did brilliantly in frustrating the visitors in the first half with a steady looking defence, getting the blocks in when it mattered, and will be disappointed they were unable to not take at least a point.

There were plenty of half-chances for Latics in the first half where they might have had an even bigger lead at half-time. Marcus Bent found himself on the right wing on 13 minutes and his cross found Antoine Sibierski, but the Frenchman's shot wasn't strong enough to trouble goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Landzaat also saw his volley go wide on a slippery surface after 20 minutes whilst Michael Brown was denied an opportunity just before the break when Wilfred Bouma cut out Luis Antonio Valencia's dangerous looking cross as the tough tackling midfielder was about to pounce inside the box.

Bramble nearly had a brace as he headed wide at the far post from Taylor's corner just moments into the second half.

Despite Villa having found the net twice, they had otherwise rarely troubled Kirkland, with the England shot stopper only really having to make a save from Shaun Maloney's shot directed at the near post in the 35th minute.

The conditions certainly didn't help either team this afternoon and Latics may feel the scoreline is a little unjustified considering they had more chances than their visitors from the Midlands.

LATICS: Kirkland; Melchiot (c), Bramble, Scharner, Kilbane; Valencia, Landzaat (Olembe 80), Brown, Taylor; Bent, Sibierski (Aghahowa 63).

UNUSED SUBS: Pollitt, Granqvist, Skoko.

GOALS: Bramble 27

BOOKED: Bramble

ASTON VILLA: Carson; Mellberg, Laursen, Davies, Bouma; Agbonlahor, Reo-Coker, Barry (c), Maloney (Gardner 61); Young (Petrov 90), Carew (Moore 11).

UNUSED SUBS: Taylor, Harewood.

GOALS: Davies 55, Agbonlahor 70

BOOKED: Agbonlahor

REFEREE: Howard Webb