STEVE Banks left Villa Park on Saturday bearing the scars of battle and carrying Peter Schmeichel's shirt as a souvenir of his Premiership debut.

Wounded by the trailing boot of Villa striker Darius Vassell and disappointed to have been on the losing side, he at least had the consolation of having his performance praised by the man still regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world.

"He played really well and conceding three goals and playing a game like he did is tough," the great Dane said of his opposite number. It's nice to know that 10 years down the road I'll see him play and I'll be able to say I've got his shirt."

Already 29, it is debatable whether Banks will be around in another decade. but Schmeichel's praise is a tribute he will treasure long into his retirement, along with the shirt he swapped with his hero after a pulsating duel that Villa thought they had in the bag after coming from behind to lead 3-1 early in the second half

Character

"It was really nice of Peter to give me his shirt," the Londoner said. "It was just great for me to play on the same pitch as him. He is still my hero. He is a character and he has won so many things. I'm going to frame the shirt and for him to ask me for mine was fantastic.

"I think he is the main reason why Villa are top on the table, although they are so strong coming forward as well.

"I was pleased to see the back of Angel but when you look up and see Paul Merson coming on ..!"

But Banks was neither too star struck by his admiration for Schmeichel or too dazed by the head injury he suffered when he dived bravely at Vassell's feet to know how close Wanderers had been to leaving Villa Park with their unbeaten away record intact.

"We were all very disappointed with the first half," he admitted, "we just weren't doing it and the manager said a few things at half time. Some true words were spoken.

"But at least in the second half we played a bit more and could even have nicked a point."

The collision with Vassell clearly had a bearing on Villa nudging themselves into a half-time lead. Four minutes after Banks had been nursed back to his feet, the Villa man stormed through to beat him with a low shot.

"Vassell caught me," he explained, "I had a splitting headache and a bit of fuzziness and it took me time to come round.

"But there was no way I wanted to come off and I felt better after half time."

Schmeichel admitted Villa were relieved at the end but insisted the scoreline reflected Villa's dominance. "On balance we had more chances than Bolton and deserved to win," he said, "and I think the Bolton players will say the same.

"But we very nearly gave a good lead away second half. Bolton came back very strongly and they were going for it, putting Dean Holdsworth on ... we were actually quite pleased to come away with a 3-2 victory."