GUDNI Bergsson reflected today on the chance that got away and cost Wanderers their unbeaten away record.

"I should have equalised," the Reebok skipper admitted as he agonised over the chance that went begging at Villa Park where a spirited performance ended in a 3-2 defeat - ending a run that stretched back to April 16.

"I had a very good chance and with a bit of luck we could have had a point."

Having taken a lead within 90 seconds through Michael Ricketts, Wanderers looked like heading for a heavy defeat as a rampant Aston Villa - on their way to the top of the table - stormed into a 3-1 lead.

But Ricketts' second sparked a fighting finish which looked certain to pay off as the in-form striker deflected a Per Frandsen cross directly into Bergsson's path - only for him to miss the ball completely.

"It came a bit awkwardly," the veteran defender explained.

"I couldn't quite head it but it was at that height ... too close ... it looked and felt a bit awkward.

"I tried to take it with the outside of my right boot but failed miserably I'm afraid."

Despite the disappointment, Bergsson believes Wanderers can take heart from a performance of character against an impressive Villa side, who got the benefit of a controversial penalty award to go 3-1 up inside the first two minutes of the second half when Ricardo Gardner was penalised for a foul on Villa midfielder Moustapha Hadji.

Questionable penalty

"We were having to climb a mountain after they scored their third, which was a questionable penalty," he admitted. "I thought it was a very very harsh decision. If he touched him it was minimal contact but the referee gave it and after that it was very difficult for us.

"Villa gave us a hard time and we gave them too much space to work in. We dropped back and and made it too easy for them.

"It was a bad time to give those two goals away (either side of half-time) but we came back into the game and when Michael scored the second ... who knows?

"But we shouldn't be too disheartened. We stuck at it and could have nicked a point in the end."

Wanderers have been linked with 19-year-old French midfielder Ahmid Chafni and Rochdale's 19-year-old keeper Matthew Gilks.