Source: Daily_Mail
Bolton 0 Aston Villa 1: Ashley Young's show of unity lifts doubts over Martin O'Neill's future
Martin O'Neill seems contentto let a vague question mark lingerover his future amid clear evidencethat his Aston Villa team won'tallow one terrible result to capsizea buoyant season. [LNB]The O'Neill debate remains a riddle,just like the mass melee on thefinal whistle that raised the temperaturefar above what had been atepid contest at the Reebok. [LNB]Villa were convincing enough formatch-winner Ashley Young to proclaimthat O'Neill's players expecthim to remain next season. [LNB][LNB] [LNB] Back in the groove: Ashley Young (second right) secured the points for Villa[LNB]MATCH FACTSBOLTON WANDERERS (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen 7;Ricketts 6, Cahill 6, Knight 6, Robinson 6;Lee 5 (Taylor 78min), Muamba 5, Cohen 6(Weiss 66, 7), Wilshere 7; Elmander 5 (Klasnic57, 6), K Davies 6. [LNB]Booked: Wilshere, Klasnic. [LNB]ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Friedel 7; Cuellar 6,Dunne 7, Collins 8, Warnock 7; Young 7, Delph 6(Sidwell 75, 6), Petrov 7, Downing 7; Carew 6(Heskey 70, 6), Agbonlahor 6. [LNB]Booked: Downing.[LNB]Man of the match: James Collins. [LNB]Referee: Mike Jones[LNB]Young even cited the after-matchkerfuffle apparently sparked by Bolton claims that Villa brokedrop-ball protocol in seizing a latechance spurned by Gabby Agbonlahor as proof of the unity O'Neillhas instilled in his side. [LNB]'At least it shows what a greatspirit we've got,' said Young afterthe exchanges that saw three playersbooked. [LNB]'Martin is integral istaking Villa to the next stage. Lookhow far we've come on under him. If anyone had said we'd be in theCarling Cup final, the FA Cup semisand still with a chance of finishingfourth, you'd have taken that.' [LNB]Young's 'everyone' presumablyincludes owner Randy Lerner, withwhom O'Neill will thrash out hisposition after declaring that hewants to remain. [LNB]Wrong way Jussi: Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen (right) fails to stop Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor from taking a shot on goal[LNB]So bereft were Bolton in a thirdsuccessive defeat that Villa shouldhave put the game out of sightwithout having to rely on Young'sexquisite early goal. [LNB]O'Neill felt his players won forthemselves rather than him. But heinsisted he, rather than they, carriedthe can for the 7-1 humiliationat Chelsea last week.[LNB]'Players don't want to be malignedwith a performance like that andthis was a great response,' he said.[LNB]Bolton boss Owen Coyle had topinpoint the pocket-sized JackWilshere, on loan from Arsenal, tofind anything positive in Bolton'slimp performance. [LNB]Not this time: Jaaskelainen (right) and Gary Cahill (left) prevent Villa's Emile Heskey from scoring[LNB]'We need more like Jack,' saidCoyle. [LNB]'Not only does he haveunbelievable ability but he also hasthe spirit and fight we need for therun-in.' [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Boost for Aston Villa as Martin O'Neill admits: I won't throw my toys out of the pram over transfer budgetIAN RIDLEY: Aston Villa owner Randy learns a lesson as Martin O'Neill's men run out of steam again Piers Morgan: Harry Redknapp, the True Brit: Foreigners flood our football, but he's playing the patriot game at Spurs [LNB][LNB]
