Source: Telegraph
Aston Villa 5 Bolton Wanderers 1: match report
Aston Villa responded to their midweek defeat at West Ham United in decisive fashion in what has become something of a traditional romp over outplayed Bolton Wanderers . [LNB]The Lancashire side had conceded four goals on their last two visits to Villa Park and though their manager Gary Megson had called for a display of resolute defending, his players mustered only further incompetence by going one better, or worse, during this latest trip to the West Midlands. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tablePremier League actionPremier League fixturesSport on televisionJohn Carew was Villa's most influential player, involved in four of the goals that amounted to an embarrassing rout for the visitors. [LNB]His early shot was parried by Jussi Jaaskelainen as Villa began in pulsating style, determined to erase the memory of that Upton Park reverse, and when the ball ran loose Ashley Young pounced from close range to secure the lead. [LNB]Bolton sent on John Elmander to bolster their attacking options but a second arrived for Villa when their former centre-back Gary Cahill's error saw Carew steal the ball on the touchline and pass to Gabriel Agbonlahor whose low shot went though Jaaskelainen's legs. [LNB]Cahill made partial amends when his blocked effort rebounded off a post two minutes later and Elmander had the simplest of tasks to tap in his first league goal since last December, ironically scored here at Villa Park in a 4-2 defeat. [LNB]Any thoughts of a recovery, though, were swiftly dispelled eight minutes after the interval when Carew turned the static Zak Knight, on his first return to his former club, then nutmegged Cahill before sweeping the ball home. [LNB]It got worse for Bolton when from Young's dipping left centre, Kevin Davies pushed Carew at the far post and Mark Clattenburg awarded a penalty. [LNB]Jaaskelainen saved Jason Milner's spot kick well but as Steve Sidwell followed up, his own effort struck a post before ricocheting to Milner who finally finished the job he'd started from ten yards out. [LNB]As the home team passed the ball around contemptuously, they applied a final insult to Bolton's passive defending when Carlos Cuellar's glanced header found the back of the net 14 minutes from time. [LNB]
