Bolton reach League Cup final

Aston Villa 2 Bolton 0 (Bolton win 5-4 on agg)

Bolton are through to their first League Cup final for nine years despite suffering a two-goal defeat in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final meeting at Villa Park.

Thomas Hitzlsperger’s early goal gave Aston Villa hope of overturning the 5-2 deficit from the first leg at the Reebok Stadium.

But Villa failed to take their first half chances and then had midfielder Gavin McCann red carded for a slap in the face of Bolton defender Emerson Thome shortly before the interval.

In the second half Bolton were coping more comfortably with the threat of David O’Leary’s side until Jlloyd Samuel’s deflected shot set up a grandstand finish.