Bolton played as though they are already safe from relegation but a third successive defeat leaves Wanderers’ Premier League status still in doubt.

And next up for Owen Coyle’s side, after a 10-day break, are new title favourites Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Manager Owen Coyle believes this was an opportunity lost to increase the daylight between his side and the bottom three which remains at five points.

“Overall, as a group, we never attained the standard I’d expect,” said Coyle.

“That’s what is disappointing because we had a good opportunity to win three points and put ourselves in a very good position in the league, but we’ve allowed it to pass us by.

“We started very well in the first 10 minutes, and were the team in the ascendancy, putting Villa on their heels.

“But you can’t give the time and space we allowed to a player of the quality of Young inside the box, and although it was an exquisite finish, it was a poor goal to lose.

“After that, though, we huffed and puffed without any fluency or real cohesion to our game.”

Ashley Young’s 10th minute winner completed a league double for Martin O’Neill’s Champions League outsiders.

It was one of the few highspots of a dreary game as Villa, at least, atoned for their 7-1 embarrassment against the new league leaders.

Indeed, had both sides shown the same passion they did after the final whistle, it could have been a better game.

Bust up

Both teams waded into each other after a stoppage time bust-up involving Jack Wilshere, Gabby Agbonlahor and Stewart Downing.

Referee Mike Jones struggled to keep control and booked Wilshere and substitute Ivan Klasnic for dissent.

Young’s winner was groundhog day for Jussi Jaaskelainen as he watched the England World Cup hopeful curl in a right foot shot just as he had done on the same ground last May.

Young’s strike, after collecting Stephen Warnock’s pass, came after Tamir Cohen tested Brad Friedel with Bolton’s only shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

Jaaskelainen, however, was far busier, saving from Agbonlahor after 29 minutes and denying Young a second goal four minutes later.

Wanderers haven’t scored now in their last three games and it was no surprise when Johan Elmander was replaced by Klasnic with half an hour left.

The Croatian crowd favourite was certainly more dangerous than his Swedish team mate.

And he had half a chance to snatch his eighth of the season 18 minutes from time.

But he was too close to Friedel with his left foot chip.

Villa should have saved themselves an anxious late Wanderers revival when Agbonlahor faiiled to profit from a one-on-one against Jaaskelainen.

The big Finn was then booked, racing off his line to berate referee Jones, after Villa created their chance from a controversial drop ball following a clash of heads between Gary Cahill and Emile Heskey.

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