BOLTON v Aston Villa.......... match thread

What a good performance and great result.

A bit of pressure was on because of Birmingham’s result earlier but we had an excellent attitude to the match throughout.

We set off with a corner in the first minute followed by 2 more almost immediately and it set the tone for the game.

Villa as expected passed the ball well, better than us, but we absolutely outfought them with a determination not seen for a while.

Villa had some early pressure but then another corner came. I will say that Ameobi’s low corner was planned. Pratley flicked it on for a Le Fondre typical goal poacher’s tap in.

Villa were shocked and we should have scored a little while later when Beevers headed down for Pratley 10 yards out but his side foot (why not blast it?) was blocked.

Andrew Taylor sparked the game into a frenzy with a crunching tackle on the wimp of amidfielder for Villa. Henry told Steve Bruce a few things about his reaction and somehow got booked when Snodgrass had a pushing fit with him. It, though, summed up our attitude. Villa’s players did not half fall over a lot.

Overall though we were easily the best team in the first half. Villa had some pressure down their left and a few scrambles but we coped very well.

Second half Villa stepped it up a bit and finished with 4 strikers on the pitch.

We did not create much second half but Le Fondre annoyed Villa’s defence like mad and nearly scored with a snap shot.

We were relatively comfortable and there was no desperate mad panic defending, as in the norm, this time.

Villa did have 2 chances. First Flannigan somehow got back on the line and deflected a shot back into the grateful Alnwick’s arms and then the very last minute Alnwick saved brilliantly after Ameobi has left his player free at the far post.


A really excellent performance. Praise to all concerned.



We have not had a good snowy match for years. I really enjoyed it. Credit to the referee also for sensible decisions particularly when Villa’s players rolled around (no 20).

Alnwick - 8 Good solid performance highlighted by a last minute excellent save.

Flannigan - 7 I thought that in the first half he left too much room and got caught out but that may have been Ameobi’s reluctance to help. Second half much solider and a brilliant save on the line late on.

Burke - 8 Really good. Has brought some pace to the back four.

Beevers - 7 Good tackling and won most headers.

Taylor - 7 Steady and a great tackle that got Villa wound up.

Henry - 7 Surprisingly calm. He brought the ball out of defence a few times instead of the usual hoofing.

Derik - 7 Steady again and was involved throughout.

Pratley - 6 Only on for 25 minutes but assisted on the goal, missed a sitter, got fouled a few times and fouled endlessly. Not bad!

Ameobi - 7 Held the ball well and occupied Villa’s defence.

Buckley - 6 Made a few decent breaks but spoiled everyone with a dreadful final pass.

Le Fondre - 9 Excellent. Goal poacher’s goal and constantly harried Villa’s back four. Like a ferret – all over them.

Vela - 6 Improved our forward play when he came on. Would love him to get in the box more often like last season.

Robinson - 7 Only on for a while but a really good impact in that he took the ball upfield and ran down time excellently.



Manager - 8 I often criticise him so credit where it is due. He got the players up for this match and, despite being pressured in the second half, we did not have the last 15 minutes of mass panic which normally occurs.