Villa 4 Bolton 2 - analysis

Martin O'Neill has dubbed them Villa's Morecambe and Wise – but to Premier League defences Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor are as menacing as the Mitchell brothers.

Off the field, the dynamic duo are regarded as the pranksters of the Villa dressing room; But on it, they are proving time and time again their favourite routine is causing havoc more befitting of Eastenders' steely siblings.

Last week it was Young who earned the plaudits, his brilliant brace in the 3-2 win at Everton prompting O'Neill to claim he is in the same bracket as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The compliments couldn't come any bigger.

On Saturday it was the turn of his partner in crime Agbonlahor to take centre stage with a performance packed with pace, power and predatory poise which Bolton had no answer to.

On this form, Fabio Capello will surely feel compelled to reward both with more regular roles in his England squad.

Since John Carew's injury 22-year-old Agbonlahor has carried the weight of Villa's striking duties solely on his shoulders – a big responsibility for one so young, but one he has revelled in.

He is already into double figures – his tally of 10 just one off last term's total – and, for Capello's information, no Englishman has scored more Premier League goals.

Agbonlahor and Young are figureheads for all the O'Neill revolution at Villa Park stands for: young, hungry, talented and English.

It's a potentially devastating combination, one teasing fans with the prospect of a first glimpse of Champions League football in the Midlands.

And while it would be dangerous to get carried away with the halfway point not even passed, these are most certainly exciting times.

Most encouraging is the fact each time Villa's top-four challenge has looked in danger of collapse they have responded resoundingly.

First, by claiming four points against Manchester United and Arsenal after defeats to Newcastle and Middlesbrough and now by bouncing back from home stalemate with Fulham by taking maximum points from Everton and Bolton.

In many ways, the last-gasp triumph over the Toffees was their biggest win of the season because it generated a sense of invincibility. The win over Wanderers was up there too, their first three points at Villa Park since October 29 answering concerns they were struggling to break down teams coming for a point.

One of their biggest failings in this promising campaign has been a chronic inability to take advantage of their rivals' slip-ups. This time, however, it was snatched with both hands.

Arsenal's draw at Middlesbrough in the early kick-off meant Villa knew three points would guarantee they reclaimed fourth – and deliver they did

Then throw in draws for Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United too and weekends don't come any better.

And with the World Club Championship keeping United out of domestic action until Boxing Day, victory at West Ham next weekend will guarantee Villa spend Christmas in the vertigo-inducing heights of third.

Psychologically, it would be a massive boost, especially given that is the position they would find themselves in when the Gunners arrive for the crunch Boxing Day showdown.

On the current form of both teams, it is a game Villa can go into with nothing to fear.

But things could have been different on the basis of Saturday's first 20 minutes.

Having taken an early lead courtesy of Johan Elmander's 16th-minute nonchalant flick, the Trotters were a whisker away from doubling their advantage when Gretar Steinsson thumped a fierce header against the crossbar from a corner by ex-Villa midfielder Gavin McCann.

Disaster

Considering Villa's barren run of two league games without a goal at Villa Park and Bolton's reputation as stubborn opponents, it seemed O'Neill's men were in for another arduous afternoon.

As it proved, nothing could have been further from the truth.

Playing a high line against one of the fastest attacks in the top flight is a recipe for disaster – one Trotters and ex-Albion chief Gary Megson insisted afterwards was a ploy opposite to his instructions.

When Villa were in possession they were rarely if ever closed down, giving them time to pick their passes and expose the space in behind the back four.

The equaliser, which came within nine minutes of the opener, was a case in point.

Martin Laursen pumped a long ball upfield for Agbonlahor, who was being marked by the beleaguered Andrew O'Brien – still no more of an eloquent a defender since switching from Andy.

Not only did Agbonlahor win the header, he superbly teed himself up with his initial header before volleying home. The ball never touched the ground.

Five minutes before the break Villa led courtesy of Kevin Davies' headed own goal under pressure from Laursen. The cross from Barry was typically pinpoint, the only difference it was delivered with his right foot, not his left.

It could so easily have been three before the whistle, Villa having two big penalty shouts – the second, a blatant handball by ex-Villa defender Gary Cahill which was somehow missed by referee Lee Probert.

Ashley Young was finding an increasing amount of space down the left as Villa became increasingly dominant and it seemed only a matter of time before the third arrived.

Not even two Trotters markers could prevent him delivering a pinpoint 67th-minute centre which was begging for Agbonlahor to apply the finishing touches with a glancing header. Game over.

The roles were reversed with 12 minutes left when Agbonlahor laid the ball off to Young 20 yards out, his low shot taking a slight deflection off Cahill before flying inside the left post.

Now it was a rout and every Villa touch was being greeted with cheers.

There was still time for Wanderers forward Davies to score at the right end but it did little to dampen the celebrations.