Aston Villa still winless after stalemate with Bolton Wanderers

25 April 2009 18:54
And so it continues. Aston Villa extended their number of matches without a win to 12 with this draw against Bolton, and what is worrying for club and fans alike is that their worst run for two years shows no signs of ending. [LNB]Martin O'Neill, their manager, was not even able to dull the ache with another reference to his side's improved performances in recent games: this was a relapse, simple as that. [LNB] Related ArticlesTelegraph player raterPremier League tablePremier League relegation battleLiverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa all fall foul of curse of scoreless drawMartin ONeill takes leading role in Aston Villas passion playAston Villa manager Martin ONeill powerless to stop rumours of Gareth Barrys departureNot so for Bolton. Gary Megson began his Bolton managerial career with a 1-1 draw in last season's corresponding fixture, and while his side are not in such dire straits as they were then, they are not yet safe from relegation. Having failed to win in their last three games, this point was an important one to 'help us along the way', as Megson chose to put it. [LNB]Megson was open enough to admit that Bolton were a far cry from their best form, but then so were Villa. Their problems of late have tended to be defensive, but this time they were lacking in attacking edge, mainly it seemed, because Ashley Young was, O'Neill admitted, 'off colour'. [LNB]As such it was Bolton who looked more impressive going forward, despite some loose passing. Gavin McCann came ever so close with a free-kick, and then, on the half-hour mark, Matt Taylor picked out Fabrice Muamba in front of goal. A simple tap in, surely, but the midfielder got the ball caught between his feet, and Brad Friedel had time to gather. [LNB]Gradually, however, Villa laid the building blocks, and they were rewarded two minutes before the break, as so often this season, on the counter-attack. Picking the ball up inside his own half, Carew found [LNB]Emile Heskey with a delightful back-heel. While the England striker took the ball forward, laying off for Young to deliver into the area, Carew ghosted his way into the danger area. Young's co-ordinates had been off all game – two of his free-kicks had already sailed high and wide – and so it was again.[LNB] His cross for Carew was over hit, but as luck would have it, Jussi Jaaskelainen's vision appeared blocked and the ball found its way in at the far post. [LNB]But Bolton persisted. In the 60th minute, Taylor's ball into the box was headed back by Andy O'Brien, and Cohen was in the vicinity, unmarked, and able to lash the ball in past a helpless Friedel. [LNB]'Defensively we were more sound than in recent weeks,' O'Neill said, looking for positives. 'Mathematically it would be almost impossible [to finish fourth]. We had to win today to be in with a chance. As for that elusive win, I'm hoping it's around the corner.' [LNB] 

Source: Telegraph