Megson slams poor performance

Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson slammed his team's performance as they went down 5-1 at Aston Villa.

The Trotters were behind inside the fifth minute after Ashley Young finished from close range before Gabby Agbonlahor doubled the lead, and despite substitute Johan Elmander giving Bolton a lifeline just before the break, an awful second half display saw Bolton collapse.

Megson thought the performance was no-where near the standard required for a Premier League team, and said it was a poor reflection of the football club.

"Sometimes your going to find that you maybe have one or two players who aren't performing up to the usual standards but today I don't think there's anyone in the outfield 10 that's got even close to what we expect," he told Sky Sports.

"I feel sorry for our goalkeeper (Jussi Jaaskelainen) because he played well and did not deserve to get beaten five times.

"Carew was strong and lively but every one of their players looked close to their best.

"Of our outfield players, none got close to what I would expect from them.

"If we can't sort it out with what we have already got, then we will need to change things a bit."

Setback

Megson was disappointed that his side fell behind so early in the game, and admitted from therein it was an uphill struggle to get back in the match.

"We had talked before the game about Villa starting at a high tempo and scoring goals at the start of games and just after half-time on a regular basis," he added.

"We said we needed to match them but it didn't happen and the manner of the third goal summed it up for us.

"Carew rolled Knight too easily and beat Cahill too easily. At 3-1 it left us with a mountain to climb."

Bolton have now conceded 13 goals in their last three games and it was an unhappy return to Villa Park for Gary Cahill and Zat Knight who had a torrid time containing John Carew and Agbonlahor.