Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

Yes, looking at the likes of Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn and Wolves in particular, even when our form is poor we should still be absolutely fine with the players we have.

Feel sorry for Coyle; they've lost bundles of goals from Sturridge and Elmander; injuries to key players in Lee and Holden. Cahill almost certain to leave in a couple of weeks.

[ez]

Goes to show there are worse teams than us in the premier. Slightley concerned about Bent, should of had a hat-trick, but any win is a good win at the moment.

[brontebilly]

Phew. Good first half performance against a woeful team. Should have scored 5 or 6 today.

It does seem that when teams get on the front foot against us (any of the top sides, Everton away first half, QPR away first half, second half today) we really struggle to string two passes together.

Guzan - 6. Decent overall, and one very good save.

Hutton - 6. Actually decent today, though still doesn't look comfortable.
Collins - 7. Thought he did well.
Dunne - 8. Excellent leadership today. Very good.
Warnock - 7. Looked good: solid and dependable with good energy.

Albrighton 7 - impressed today. Would be good if his confidence came back. Worked hard. Good delivery though a little inconsistent
Herd 6 - battled away well and helped to provide security. Not the best at keeping the ball.
Petrov 7 - Scored, could have had another, should have had an assist.
N'Zogbia 6. Good in patches, one of his better performances. But disappeared for patches.

Agbonlahor 7. Good assist. Kept the ball and brought other players in well.

Bent 5. Poor. We'd have crucified Heskey or Delfouneso for a performance like that. Needs to get back into the groove.

Heskey 5. Frustrating. Ran around and hustled them a fair bit.

id agree with the most of that. though bent was more of a 3. Dunne was excellent defensively but hoofed it too often. thought motm was between albrighton and dunne. Id go for albrighton. delighted for him. goal gave him a big boost and he was dangerous throughout. petrov was good going forward and on the ball. But without the ball he is lost in a 2 man midfield. gabby is creating chances for others but Id like to see him more in the centre running on to through balls. would like to see him hungrier for goals as he is certainly capable of it.

overall the performance was much better in the first half. Two widemen were very dangerous. But we kept it well most of the time.

to give bolton some credit they made a game of it in the second. but we defended well today. yeah we should have kept the ball on the deck more in the second half. Thats the way to take the sting out of the game rather than going direct. Going direct with Bent is pointless. In fairness 2-1 flatters Bolton. We were at least 2 goals better and it should have been far more comfortable if we hadnt missed 3 sitters.

we have beaten the muck so far this season - Blackburn, Norwich, Wigan and Bolton. Good to get the away win monkey of our backs regardless of how poor Bolton were. Points were pissed away at Sunderland and Swansea but hopefully the result today will see us seeing out these games in future.

[Archie]

We suffered like beasts against a very poor team, so the only good things of the day imo are the win in itself  and the performance and the goal of Supermark, he showed that his place is on the pitch not on the bench.   

[olaftab]

In fairness to Bent he's not been given much chance to get into form this season.

It's been so long since he got a decent chance he's probably forgotten what to do.

Rooney scored a goal today the first in ages and also Suarez's goal was his first since September. Nothing wrong with Bent providing we dominate and create chances. He is a passenger when we don't and kick and hope.

[Brian Taylor]

They make you sweat for it. We should had more. Still a few points adrift of top lot. Better than nothing for sure!
Getting there I think. Need some more players in Jan!

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I said this on the pre match thread:

'2-1 Villa win.

We will score our 2 goals from Bent and Gabby nice and early. They will score just before half time, and we will defend from our six yard line (successfully this time) for the whole of the second half. It will look more like rugby than football, but Villa will take the 3 points.'

Not a million miles from what happened by the sounds of things. Play hoofball against any team other than relegation fodder and you will lose. However Bolton sound like a terrible team and I'm looking forward to seeing our goals on Match of the Day.

[Matt Collins]

Our away form hasn't been that bad apart from against the big sides. We should have won at Swansea and Sunderland; as well as at QPR although that would have been spawny.

I still expect us to look shit against Liverpool. But at least we don't currently look like being bottom 5 by NYE.

[Matt C]

Thank McGrath for that. A win and that's all I'm bothered about at the moment.

[Legion]

Great result. Promising play by N'Zogbia. Albrighton back to form. Shame for those who wanted us to lose.

No one on here wants us to lose.  That is a ridiculous statement.

Unfortunately, DC5 is correct. There are a few muppets on here who would have liked us to lose in order to add fuel to the fire regarding McLeish. See the Pre-Match and the McLeish threads for examples.

[TimTheVillain]

Great 3 points, desperately needed.

N'Zog will come good, he's got the ability.

Passing still too anxious,often lacking in poise, thus giving the ball away far too many times.

Gabby's yellow was never a yellow, can this be contested ?

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Good that other players scoredrather than Bent and Gabby. Albrighton performance is a massive needed boost along with 3 pts ...........

[cdbearsfan]

Delighted with the win.

Back in the title hunt.

[Ads]

Just got back from a wet and downright freezing Reebok.

I thought we were excellent value in the first half, keeping the ball well, pressing the opposition and stretching them with two widemen.

In the second Bolton came back somewhat and there was always a fear of their high ball, but we still created the better chances with Bent and Albrighton going close.

A good away win against a piss poor Bolton.

[olaftab]

I do hope after this win Eck picks the same team with Gabby replaced by Heskey upfront (not midfield) for Liverpool and attack them relentlessly and if we lose we lose.