Gary Speed and Kevin Davies struck a goal in each half for the Wanderers but Villa twice fought back to make a game of it thanks to two superb goals from Craig Gardner and Luke Moore.

Bolton where encouraged by the return of Tal Ben-Haim and Abdoulaye Faye before kick off and the side had a much more relaxed feel about it to the one which lost heavily against West Ham last weekend.

Within the opening sixty seconds Kevin Davies and Kevin Nolan challenged Dutch full back Wilfred Bouma down the right flank and the resulting loose ball was ambitiously fired goalwards by Nolan who saw his shot just dip over the crossbar of Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen.

Villa proved they where not in Lancashire just to make up the numbers and within the opening twenty minutes they dominated the play and where unlucky not to have gone ahead when giant forward John Carew prodded Ashley Young's left wing corner just wide of Jussi Jaaskelainen's right hand post.

Carew nearly tested Jaaskelainen once more with a header from Aaron Hughes' cross and he was proving to be the dangerman for the visitors who looked well organised, especially in the midfield area.

On 20 minutes good combination play by Davies and Anelka down the left flank found Nolan in the penalty area but the Bolton skipper was foiled by Villa's Gareth Barry just as he was about to get a shot in on goal.

Just over ten minutes later the Wanderers took the lead through their newly appointed player/coach Gary Speed. Kevin Davies won a header cleanly, strike partner Anelka deftly shifted the ball onto the onrushing midfielder Speed who fired home his eighth goal of the season past Sorensen.

The celebrations from the hosts where short lived though as Villa hit back eight minutes before the break thanks to an incredible volley from youngster Craig Gardner. Carew's looping header found it's way into the penalty area and Gardner caught the ball perfectly to send his volley dipping into the bottom corner.

Villa keeper Sorensen was accidently caught by Nolan in a one on one situation shortly before the interval and he did not make his way out for the second half with the Midlanders bringing on former Arsenal custodian Stuart Taylor.

Wanderers manager Sammy Lee also made a change during the break by bringing on Idal Tal in place of Nicolas Anelka and Bolton's formation for the early stages of the second period seemed ineffective.

Within nine minutes of the re-start Villa should have found themselves in front but Carew's glancing header from Ashley Young's right wing cross did little to trouble Jaaskelainen.

Bolton substitute Tal found giant defender Lubomir Michalik shortly before the hour but the Slovakian could not get enough direction on his header to worry Taylor.

Ricardo Vaz-Te made his way into the action at the expense of goalscorer Speed as the home side looked to give lone striker Kevin Davies a bit more support up front.

On 58 minutes the Wanderers regained the advantage when good perseverence by Davies from Ivan Campo's free kick gave him a shooting chance which he took by firing the ball through the legs of substitute keeper Taylor..

Davies could have grabbed a second of the afternoon with a goal which would have taken him into double figures for the season but it was Nolan who was the most guilty for missing a glorious chance at the far post after Ricardo Gardner had caused problems down the left wing.

Villa made Bolton pay for their missed chances when with just under ten minutes remaining Luke Moore came of the bench to convert another pinpoint cross from Young.

It began to get nailbiting for the Trotters in the closing moments with Gabriel Agbonlahor heading a goalwards shot onto the back of Bolton full back Ben-Haim but results elsewhere ensured it was another top eight finish for the Wanderers with European football once again on the menu next year.

The watching Sam Allardyce could only applaud from the stands as new man Sammy Lee takes on his legacy and will hopefully continue the good work that has been achieved so far.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Tal Ben-Haim, Lubomir Michalik, Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner, Abdoulaye Faye, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed (Ricardo Vaz-Te), Kevin Nolan, Nicolas Anelka (Idan Tal), Kevin Davies

Subs Not Used: Andranik Teimourian, James Sinclair, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

Aston Villa: Thomas Sorensen (Stuart Taylor), Aaron Hughes, Martin Laursen, Olaf Mellberg, Wilfred Bouma (Steven Davis), Ashley Young, Craig Gardner, Gareth Barry, Patrik Berger (Luke Moore), Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew 

Subs Not Used: Gavin McCann, Gary Cahill

Referee:

Mark Clattenburg

Attendance:

26,255

Booked:

Craig Gardner (Aston Villa)

Tal Ben-Haim (Bolton)

Abdoulaye Faye (Bolton)

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