Gabby brace downs Bolton

Aston Villa have leapfrogged Arsenal in the Premier League table following a 4-2 success over Bolton.

Agbonlahor nets a brace as Bolton lose 4-2 at Villa Park

Aston Villa have leapfrogged Arsenal into fourth in the Premier League table following a 4-2 success over Bolton at Villa Park. Johan Elmander opened the scoring, but goals before half-time from Gabriel Agbonlahor and a Kevin Davies own goal had the home side in front. Villa were denied a clear penalty before the interval when Gary Cahill handled inexplicably in his own penalty area, but referee Lee Probert waved away Villa's appeals. Agbonlahor nodded in his second of the game on 67 minutes from Ashley Young's cross, before the winger got on the scoresheet shortly after when Agbonlahor repaid the favour with a neat inside pass. Bolton did respond late on as Davies found the right net when he nodded home Gretar Steinsson's right-wing cross after out-jumping Carlos Cuellar at the back post. After 18 minutes Bolton stunned the home fans by going ahead through Elmander's fifth goal of the season. Davies did well to supply a low cross from near the by-line and Elmander's back heel at the near post was enough to beat Brad Friedel even though he got some of his body to the ball. Bolton came close to doubling their lead when Steinsson thumped a fierce header against the crossbar from a corner by ex Villa midfielder Gavin McCann.

Glaring miss

Villa retaliated and Curtis Davies was guilty of a glaring miss when he headed wide when completely unmarked at the far post from an inswinging Gareth Barry free-kick. But the home side were not to be denied and in the 24th minute a superb finish by Agbonlahor brought them back on level terms. Laursen played a long ball forward from deep in his own half and in one movement Agbonlahor wriggled away from Andy O'Brien and volleyed past Jussi Jaaskelainen from 12 yards out. O'Brien became the first player to be yellow-carded shortly afterwards after chopping down Agbonlahor on the right flank. Agbonlahor was becoming an increasing threat and forced a low save out of Jaaskelainen away to his left after Young had picked out his run into the danger area. But Villa had a let-off when Matthew Taylor blazed over from near the penalty spot with only Friedel to beat after a floated ball into the box from McCann had only been half cleared. Then five minutes before half-time an own goal from Davies put Villa ahead. The Bolton striker was under pressure from Laursen when trying to deal with a Barry left-wing cross and only succeeded in heading into his own net.

Strong claims

Villa had strong claims for a penalty rejected when Young looked to be caught late by Steinsson. Then replays showed former Villa defender Cahill clearly handling a corner from Barry inside his own six yard box only for referee Probert to decide otherwise. Villa started the second half on the offensive and Davies missed a good chance to extend their lead. The former West Brom player got on the end of a Young corner but his downward header from close range bounced over the crossbar. Young was finding an increasing amount of room on the left flank as Villa started to dominate and he set up the third goal for Agbonlahor after 67 minutes. Young managed to get in his cross despite the attention of two defenders - and Agbonlahor did the rest with a close range header. Then with 12 minutes left Agbonlahor turned goal provider, setting up Young whose low shot took a slight deflection off Cahill before flying past Jaaskelainen into the corner of the net. Davies headed a late consolation goal for Bolton from a Steinsson cross.

Aston Villa	Team Statistics	Bolton Wanderers
4	Goals	2
2	1st Half Goals	1
5	Shots on Target	3
9	Shots off Target	4
2	Blocked Shots	4
10	Corners	3
8	Fouls	16
6	Offsides	2
0	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
75.7	Passing Success	61.2
22	Tackles	16
68.2	Tackles Success	87.5
54	Possession	46
46.2	Territorial Advantage	53.8