Despite an impressive performance at Villa Park, Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle was happy with the response following the previous heavy defeat at the Emirates yet disappointed with a point feeling that it could easily have been three.

 

Kevin Davies equalised an early Ashley Young strike and it could, perhaps should have been more but for Villa keeper Brad Friedel. Coyle said ‘If truth be told I feel a little bit hard done by not to leave with all three points. For five minutes after they scored they had a couple of half chances to get a second goal but from then on in I thought we really came back into the game.’

Bolton were without Gary Cahill following his controversial dismissal during last week’s clash with Arsenal. Coyle remains angry that Cahill’s suspension was not reversed despite support from Mike Riley, the referees’ chief. Coyle has reiterated his belief that the appeal’s process must be overhauled saying that the criteria for consideration are not clear. ‘The difficulty with the process is the criteria laid down for the panel Some of the text says it needs to be a clear and obvious mistake by the referee; if it’s a yellow card it’s not clear and obvious because it’s just an interpretation.’