Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Aston Villa – Match Review
Bolton slipped to the bottom of the Premier League after they lost their seventh game at the Reebok Stadium this season following a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa.
First half goals from Marc Albrighton and Stiliyan Petrov handed the Alex McLeish’s side their first victory in three games and solidified their position in the top half of the table. For Owen Coyle he will be unhappy with his players after they began their season defining festive period off with a drab display that saw them slide to the bottom ahead of a trip to Liverpool next week. The Trotters did manage to bag a consolation goal 10 minutes into the second period through Ivan Klasnic to give supporters hope of a comeback but it wasn’t to be as they lost for the 13th time in 15 games. There will now be a sense of dread enveloping the Reebok Stadium after this defeat with relegation now a real possibility with the season approaching it’s halfway point. Villa will be hoping this win can kickstart their campaign after a stuttering start under McLeish but they will be pleased they managed to retain eighth position going into christmas.
It was all guns blazing for the Midlands side as their boss responded to criticism regarding his defensive minded tactics by fielding Albrighton and Charles N’Zogbia on the wings with Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent up front. The home side had shipped 34 goals so far and McLeish’s decision to go with an attacking lineup looked inspired as his side attacked with vigour from the first whistle. Captain Petrov and Bent both went close before Albrighton opened the scoring after 33 minutes. In-form Agbonlahor broke free down the left flank before squaring for the unmarked midfielder who cooly converted past Jussi Jaaskelainen to give Villa a deserved lead. Six minutes later the away side scored again with Petrov driving a superb 30-yard effort at goal with the ball taking a deflection off former Villan Gary Cahill.
Going two goals down seemed to snap the Trotters out of their malaise and they followed up a dreadful first half performance with a much brighter showing after the break. Kevin Davies tested Villa’s stand-in keeper Brad Guzan early on before Klasnic saw his route to goal blocked by a cluster of claret and blue shirts. The Croatian wasn’t to be denied a second time though as he collected Zat Knight’s pass before swivelling and finishing from six-yards out. However it proved to be a fleeting resurgence with the visitors coming increasing the pressure on the Trotters frail defence and Bent should have restored his sides two goal advantage but could only fire wide from eight-yards out.
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