Bolton managed to come from behind to stun Aston Villa and win 3-2 at the Reebok Stadium.
Cahill double and Klasnic winner downs wasteful visitors
Bolton managed to come from behind to stun Aston Villa and win 3-2 at the Reebok Stadium, leaving the visitors to wonder how on earth they lost a thrilling clash.
Gerard Houllier's side missed chance after chance despite going in front twice, but former Villa man Gary Cahill scored twice to level matters before substitute Ivan Klasnic grabbed the winner with four minutes of normal time remaining.
Ashley Young missed the chance to put his team 3-1 ahead from the spot in the 70th minute, as Jussi Jaaskelainen guessed right to save his spot-kick and inspire a stirring comeback in a pulsating encounter.
Despite Darren Bent and Marc Albrighton managing to put Villa in front on two occasions, Stewart Downing, Bent and Young all failed to capitalise on good chances and leave the door open for Owen Coyle's spirited side to get themselves back into it.
Houllier's inexperienced defence on the whole played well, but they were caught a cropper when they needed them most, with Cahill twice popping up unmarked from corners to score and failing to deal with the strength of Kevin Davies for Klasnic's winner.
However, despite murmurs that the Frenchman's job was on the line before this match, nothing could be taken away form the level of effort shown by his team.
Lifeline
And while Owen Coyle's men will seek to make the most of their lifeline by moving onwards and upwards, Villa are still left looking over their shoulders at the drop zone.
Bolton had started best with Kevin Davies forcing a first-minute corner and Villa defender Luke Young having to be alert to boot it clear.
Johan Elmander - replaced by match-winner Klasnic after 67 minutes - then rammed a shot over the bar before Bent was guilty of a terrible miss in the visitors' first attack in the fifth minute.
Bent beat the offside trap to charge clear onto Ashley Young's through-ball only to totally mis-kick as he attempted to dummy Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Luke Young headed off the line in the 14th minute after Brad Friedel spilled a corner from Martin Petrov and Davies headed the ball goalwards.
But Bent made amends for his earlier howler in the 15th minute when he prodded Villa in front from point-blank range after a superb run and cross from the right by Kyle Walker.
Bent almost grabbed his second in the 21st minute when he and David Wheater challenged for an Albrighton cross and the ball ricocheted off Bent's head to hit the post.
Albrighton was carving the home defence up down the right and moments later his excellent run ended with a cross which was just missed by Bent and Ashley Young in the box.
Davies set up a fine chance for Sturridge in the 24th minute when he swung in a cross from the Bolton right, but the striker headed high and wide from eight yards.
Coyle's men produced little of note until first-half injury time when Petrov swung in a corner from the left and Cahill rose highest to power home the equaliser.
Bent had a chance to put Villa back in front five minutes into the second half when he beat the offside trap to reach an Ashley Young pass, but hit a left-foot shot straight at Jaaskelainen.
Gaping
Villa came even closer after 54 minutes when Albrighton crossed from the right and Stewart Downing stole in unmarked at the far post, only to side-foot wide of a gaping target.
Two minutes later the visitors pressed again, Bent's weak shot in a crowded box blocked by Wheater and Ashley Young's follow-up well saved low by Jaaskelainen.
Villa got the second goal their pressure deserved in the 64th minute when Downing raced down the right and crossed into the box where Albrighton swung a right-foot shot into the net.
Villa were dominant and should have wrapped the game up in the 70th minute when Young won the spot-kick after being barged by Wheater, but fired it straight at Jaaskelainen.
And Villa were made to pay just five minutes later when another excellent corner by Holden found Cahill, who saw his initial header saved by Friedel before blasting home the rebound.
Bolton then snatched their stunning winner four minutes from time when Lee Chung-yong's deep cross from the left was headed back by Wheater for Klasnic to blast home.
| Bolton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
Aston Villa |
| 3 |
Goals |
2 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 8 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 8 |
Corners |
5 |
| 19 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 5 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 66.9 |
Passing Success |
59.6 |
| 12 |
Tackles |
14 |
| 91.7 |
Tackles Success |
64.3 |
| 52.6 |
Possession |
47.4 |
| 56.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
43.1 |
|
