Premiership: Bolton toast win

Bolton 3 Aston Villa 2

Bolton chalked up their second successive victory today thanks to a moment of magic from Kevin Nolan.

The England Under-20 midfielder grabbed the winner with a superb free kick in the 76th minute.

It was his eighth goal of an impressive season and helped ease the club’s relegation worries.

Bolton now go to Goodison Park and a meeting with Everton on Monday in buoyant mood.

This win - only their second in the last 14 at home - followed the defeat of Charlton last week.

Manager Sam Allardyce drafted in 38-year-old goalkeeper Kevin Poole to face his former club with Jussi Jaaskelainen sidelined through suspension.

It was also the first start for Bolton defender, the Greek international Kostas Konstantinidis, who joined the club on loan this week from Hertha Berlin.

Villa’s new £4m striker Peter Crouch got an early touch, flicking on a long clearance from keeper Peter Schmeichel.

Crouch released Darius Vassell but his effort was scrambled away by Bolton.

It was an early warning for the home side of the aerial threat posed by the England under 21 international.

Bolton hit back and Youri Djorkaeff, who scored twice last week, saw his effort from the edge of the area go narrowly wide after good work by Nolan. Bolton opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a stroke of good fortune.

Nolan whipped in a hopeful volley from outside the area and it spun off Villa defender Mark Delaney to leave Schmeichel stranded.

The game was turned on its head in the space of two minutes with Villa taking the lead.

They drew level in the 15th minute when Paul Warhurst, playing as an emergency defender, diverted the ball into his own net after George Boateng had delivered the cross from the right.

Bolton were again stunned in the 17th minute when they went behind after being guilty of ball watching.

Ian Taylor got in ahead of his team-mate Crouch to head home a corner from Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Villa stepped up the pace and Vassell should have added a third but missed his kick in front of the posts.

The chance arose when Poole could only parry a cross from Mustapha Hadji and it was another scare for Bolton.

Villa found themselves on the back foot in the 36th minute and Schmeichel did well to parry a shot from Holdsworth.

Djorkaeff pounced on the loose ball but was much too ambitious with a half volley that finished well wide of the target.

Bolton drew level five minutes before the break with Bobic’s first goal for the club.

The on-loan Borussia Dortmund striker reacted quickly to get on the end of Djorkaeff’s free kick and steer a shot beyond Schmeichel.

Villa pushed forward in the 49th minute when Vassell tried to pick out Crouch but he was well policed by Bruno N’Gotty.

Crouch again made his height tell when he got on the end of Hitzlsperger’s long throw. Vassell, however, was unable to make a decent contact.

Bobic won a free kick for Bolton on the right after a clumsy challenge from Staunton.

Ricardo Gardner took the free kick but Schmeichel was not troubled by his poor effort.

Schmeichel then released Vassell with a huge throw, only for the England prospect to stray offside.

The Danish keeper couldn’t hide his contempt for his young team-mate not timing his run properly.

Crouch was continuing to cause Bolton problems and headed just over the top following a cross from Mark Delaney.

Bobic should have put Bolton ahead, only to steer a shot wide in front of the posts after a neat delivery from Holdsworth.

Djorkaeff, who played for France in midweek, then came off and was replaced by Ricketts.

Bolton regained the lead in the 76th minute thanks to a superb 25 yard free kick from Nolan.

He floated the ball over Schmeichel after Steve Staunton had hauled back Gardner in full flight.

It was Nolan’s eighth goal of the season and one of his best.

Bolton were now in vibrant mood and Ricketts picked out Bobic but his first touch let him down.