MICHAEL Ricketts' confidently-taken 55th minute penalty after Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman had brought down the industrious Henrik Pedersen gave Wanderers three richly-deserved points.

It was a performance full of character and resolve in which the tenacity and fighting spirit with which the club has become synonymous was firmly back in evidence.

Every player played his part to the full but special mention must be made of substitutes Anthony Barness and Ricardo Gardner who both made excellent contributions replacing Simon Charlton and Paul Warhurst who, before their respective injuries, had been at the heart of the action themselves.

Once again Wanderers spurned chances but they are certainly creating a lot more than in most matches last season and their first clean sheet since February at Southampton will no doubt especially please the management.

Pedersen gave an impressive display and once he gets off the mark should go from strength to strength. Ricketts looks a lot more like his old self and Jaaskelainen made a superb late save to keep out a wicked deflection. Once again Big Sam has come up with the goods, changing things around a bit and fine tuning the tactics. Although always a threat, Villa were largely disappointing and if Wanderers had taken their chances, they may well have been spared a nerve-wracking final quarter.

Man of the Match: Youri Djorkaeff - sheer class.

I am aware that for some the cost of watching football is prohibitive but surely a football-oriented town such as Bolton should be filling the Reebok week after week to watch such a performer!