MICHAEL 'The Marvel' Ricketts grabbed another brilliant double for the Bolton battlers but it wasn't enough to save their proud unbeaten away record this season.

They slipped to their first defeat in six tough away games to an impressive Villa side who went top of the table after a hard-won but deserved victory.

It was doubly disappointing for Birmingham fan Ricketts, who scored twice against the team he would love to beat the most and he gave everything to achieve it.

He handed Bolton a flying start with an instant goal and, after Villa had gone 3-1 up aided by a controversial penalty, he led the recovery charge which almost earned a point.

Ricketts sent a header over the bar before making it 3-2 and then set up a last-gasp chance for skipper Gudni Bergsson, who completely missed his kick from point-blank range.

Disappointed Bolton boss, Sam Allardyce said: ''Villa were very good for long periods but we couldn't afford to concede a sloppy first goal from a corner like we did.

Frustrating

''The penalty situation was very disappointing, especially after last week when we had one refused at Old Trafford.

''Ricardo Gardner only brushed Hadji and it was a penalty. If it was, then there should have been six or seven in the game.

''But it put us 3-1 down and it was too much to ask to come from there even though we clawed our way back and had Villa rocking.

''We could have got a draw even though we might not have deserved it but that's soccer sometimes.''

Bolton swept ahead after a minute when Ricketts scored his seventh goal of the season and his sixth in the Premiership.

Per Frandsen tricked Villa with a neat lob over their back four to send Ricketts racing clear.

He still had the huge task of beating the massive Peter Schmeichel but Ricketts kept cool, controlling the ball before drilling a low shot to the former United man's left.

It was a massive boost for Wanderers and how they needed the cushion of the goal as Villa slipped into gear with the precise passing of the midfield keeping Bolton on the back foot.

Villa were rewarded in the 12th minute with a set-piece goal, Steve Staunton winging in a corner which Juan Angel headed in from four yards.

It was a bad goal to concede but Allardyce refused to blame keeper Steve Banks, who was making his Premiership debut.

The goal put Villa's tails up and they stepped up the pressure only for Bolton to remain defiant until the 41st minute.

Then Hadji put Darius Vassell clear and he buried a 20-yarder to Banks's right.

If going in 2-1 down at halftime wasn't bad enough, it got worse immediately after the restart.

Bolton threw on Rod Wallace for the ineffective Bo Hansen at the start of the second half but any change in tactics were immediately frustrated by Villa's third goal in the 46th minute.

Alan Wright whipped over a deep cross from the left and Gardner was adjudged to have impeded Hadji, leaving Angel to rifle home the spot-kick.

Bolton were down but not out and gradually forced their way back into the game after Banks had made a blinding save from Angel.

Ricketts headed over and then Schmeichel's sizeable bulk blocked Wallace after he had cut in and shot from the left.

Bolton finally came back into the game after 74 minutes when Gardner, given little space all afternoon, broke on the left, raced to the line and eased the ball back for Ricketts to score his second from close range.

Surprised by Ricketts cutting it in the Premiership? Annoyed by Bolton again being refused a penalty appeal? Have your say