Bolton bowing out without a fight

THIS TIME last year Bolton Wanderers were coasting towards a UEFA Cup place and cocking a snook at the aristocrats. Now they are heading inexorably for the Championship without even a whimper.

Even this season Wanderers have defeated former European champions Manchester United and Red Star Belgrade, and frustrated Bayern Munich in their own back yard, but trips across Europe will surely be replaced next season by visits to the humble environs of Swansea and Burnley.

Under Sam Allardyce, Bolton revelled in putting noses out of joint. But this group of players appear to have already accepted their fate, after another demoralising defeat that leaves them without a victory in 10 outings.

While Gary Megson, the current incumbent, must shoulder some of the blame, the damage has been done over the last 12 months. The appointment of Sammy Lee was bewildering, and the acquisitions in the summer even more so. And the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea, at a time when signing anybody remotely close to the French forward’s quality was nigh on impossible, was the equivalent of running up the white flag.

There is still time for Bolton to secure an escape — with a crucial game next weekend against West Ham — but on the evidence of this display, it would appear to be a futile mission.

“You can’t actually see that desire, but I’m sure it exists,” said Megson. “I’m sure there’s nobody pleased with the plight that we are in. I’m sure there’s nobody thinking: ‘Whatever happens to the football club, I’ll be okay.’

“You’re not down at the bottom of the table with five points after 10 games if you’ve not got problems. And you’re not down in the bottom three after 33 games and four points adrift if you haven’t got problems.

“You can’t turn around and say everything in the garden is rosy. It’s obviously not. There are some things that will take a bit of time to sort out and there are things that are more important at the moment, like getting a win.”

Martin O’Neill certainly needed this victory. He has worn the look of a haunted man in recent weeks after failing to register a single victory in March, a run that all but extinguished their hopes of a European jaunt next season.

But the effervescent swagger of his team returned as they cantered to their first win in six matches with Ashley Young giving Fabio Capello a timely nudge.

Young was one of the first players to suffer the hard-line stance of Capello last month, when he was selected for the squad to play France and then unceremoniously booted out. He was irresistible on Saturday and should be a certainty for the squad that plays USA next month.

“I was a little bit disappointed to be named and then get left out of the squad but then it’s about showing you’ve got the character to bounce back,” he said. “I just want to do well for the club and I’m pleased with how it all went well today and I’m looking forward to doing well for the rest of the season.”

Young’s excellent cross allowed Gareth Barry to head the opener before second-half goals from Gabriel Agbonlahor, Barry and Marlon Harewood piled more problems on Bolton.

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Carson 5, Mellberg 6, Knight 6, Laursen 7, Bouma 6, Reo-Coker 6, Petrov 7 (Routledge 86), Barry 8, Young 8 (Berger 83), Carew 6 (Harewood 77 6), Agbonlahor 7.

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Salifou.

BOLTON (4-4-2): Al Habsi 5, Steinsson 5, Cahill 6, Andrew O’Brien 6, Taylor 5, Guthrie 4, McCann 5, Joey O’Brien 5 (Cohen 83), Davies 5, Helguson 5, Diouf 4.

Subs Not Used: Walker, Samuel, Giannakopoulos, Campo.

REFEREE: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire) 7: Nothing too taxing, here. Showed quiet authority.

MATCH RATING: ** Bolton should have been fighting for their Premier League lives but this contest was over after just 10 minutes. Villa have been better, but their hopes of a European place are still flickering.