Two goals from Gabby Agbonlahor, one from Ashley Young and an own goal from Kevin Davies meant Bolton leaked four goals and were thoroughly beaten  at Villa Park for the second season running back in December.

The only consolation was that Davies scoring in the right end and Johan Elmander getting on the scoresheet at least meant it wasn’t another 4-0 drubbing.

Let’s hope for something much, much better today…

Have your say on Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa in the comment box below…

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The Bolton Wanderers manager needs to start playing a few mind games

Whether it’s Middlesbrough’s impressive youth set up or Liverpool’s title credentials, Gary Megson has made a habit of lavishing praise on the Wanderers’ opponents this season.

In contrast, his proclamations about his own players are almost always downbeat. Take his post match comments about Chris Basham on Saturday. Instead of praising the youngster for an impressive performance against quality opponents, he referred to him as ‘a right back who couldn’t get a game on loan at Rochdale’ on Match of the Day.

Compare this to Martin O’Neill, who was filmed running on to the pitch shouting ‘genius’ to Ashley Young after one of his matchwinning performances earlier this season.

Megson could also learn a trick or two from Rafa Benitez. Of course, what Benitez said about Alex Ferguson was tremendously hypocritical. His main gripe appeared to be that Ferguson has bad-mouthed Liverpool in the press, but Benitez has been just as happy to bad-mouth Bolton in the past: see here and here.

But that’s not the point… they’re all at it. Benitez is just protecting his patch and it’s about time Megson started doing the same. Some may see it as mere pantomime. Some may say that manager’s like Steve Bruce get away without slagging off their opponents.

But when you play in the way Bolton do – i.e. in a way that attracts a lot of criticism from opposition fans, players and managers – then you need someone at the helm who’ll stand up for you like Sam Allardyce did, otherwise the big four will just walk all over you, as they pretty much have with Bolton ever since Allardyce left.

What do you think? Have your say in the comment box below…

From the Sunday Mirror’s paltry match report, you might think there was only one team (in fact, one player) playing in the game.

The News of the World’s insight in to Bolton’s performance went as far as Gary Megson saying: ‘It was a bad day at the office but, hopefully, it was one bad day.’

The Observer at least gives a couple of paragraphs over to Wanderers fan Shaun O’Gara, who correctly identifies conceding goals from crosses and a lack of creativity in midfield as our two main deficiencies.

The Independent On Sunday identified Gretar Steinsson’s header onto the bar as a key moment for Bolton, but only used one sentence from Megson’s post-match interview… the one in which he backed Villa to break in to the top four.

The Mail On Sunday also mentioned Steinsson’s header, but devoted the rest of their report to Gabriel Agbonlahor and his lime green boots.

In the Sunday Times we got to read all about Agbonlahor’s flash car, but nothing at all from anyone in the Bolton camp.

Only the Sunday Telegraph reported that Megson said he believed Bolton’s deep defensive line had made it too easy for Agbonlahor and Ashley Young.

So, if you’re more interested in Kevin Nolan’s terminal decline than Young being the new Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo, check out Manny Road’s Fans’ View match report from the Villa game here.

Have your say in the comment box below…