Bolton 1 Aston Villa 1: Big Match Report

Apr 25 2009

It was an open game and Davies tested Friedel with a close-range header in the 42nd minute.

Young, however, got a lift a minute later when he made the breakthrough for Villa.

He curled in a shot for just outside the area and it went in off the post with Jaaskelainen seemingly distracted by the presence of Carew as the ball came in.

It was his first goal of the year and his last one came curiously enough against Bolton in December.

The home side responded a minute into the second half when Davies saw his shot go narrowly wide of the post following a knockdown by Johan Elmander after a cross from Taylor.

However Young was growing in confidence and rattled in a shot in the 53rd minute that Jaaskelainen did well to parry.

Young was given too much room five minutes later and delivered a cross into the area that was booted clear by Jaaskelainen.

Bolton, however, drew level in the 59th minute with Cohen smashing the ball home from close range after Davies and then Andy O'Brien got on the end of a free-kick from Taylor.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill looked disconsolate on the touchline after seeing his side failed to clear their lines.

Bolton then had appeals for a penalty waved away when Cohen was bundled over by Gareth Barry after breaching the defence.

It was now Villa's turn to look vulnerable with the home supporters finding their voice.

Carew, however, tried his luck from distance in the 77th minute but his instinctive effort went narrowly wide of the post.

Bolton hit back and Davies peeled away from his marker four minutes later when McCann delivered the free-kick only to see his header go across the face of the area.

Carew nearly scored the winner in the 85th minute when he got on the end of a cross from Nicky Shorey but Jaaskelainen reacted superbly to tip his effort over the bar.