Sporting Star’s Villa columnist Dave Woodhall reflects on a week of mixed fortunes for Villa.

The past week has seen two games against similar opponents but two vastly different results – and, indeed, performances.

Villa played poorly at West Ham and although it could be argued that we didn’t deserve to lose, we certainly didn’t deserve a victory either. Against a side who haven’t won a league game at home all season, this was a particularly disappointing night’s work.

Much as we can blame the referee, it wasn’t him who let in a last-minute goal after we’d had much of the possession.

But come the weekend we saw a different team altogether. Maybe that’s what happens when you have a right-back playing in his correct position, Emile Heskey nowhere to be seen  and Nigel Reo-Coker giving a bit of solidity to the midfield.

Sometimes it’s better to play one up front, but not against a Bolton side who, as ever, showed little except muscle and the occasional threat at set-pieces. Instead we had Jon Carew at his best and working well with Gabby Agbonlahor. If only they could do it more regularly.

Five goals and five different goalscorers. That doesn’t happen very often – not since 2002 when we beat West Ham 4-1, although we did of course go one better at Derby two seasons ago, with six goalscorers in a 6-0 win. Even Marlon Harewood scored that day. And now I’ll take the anorak off.

Bolton might not have been the best opposition in the world but they still had to be beaten. And three points were not only very welcome, they also quietened a few of the doubters who had started up over the past couple of weeks. It would be nice to be able to build on the result immediately but it’s international time again so we’ve got the weekend off.

Speaking of which, congratulations to all the Villa players called up and especially to Stephen Warnock, who should be the latest in our record line of England caps.

Long may it stay that way.