It means all thoughts of a second trip to Wembley have been put on hold.

Rather than celebrating a triumphant return to London, memories of last year's play-off final defeat against Watford came flooding back.

And hopes of recreating the 1958 Final vanished. One thing remained: the fan's conviction that Bolton were by far the better side.

Each fan spoke of their heartfelt pride for the Wanderers footballers who played out of their skin to keep Villa at bay throughout the whole match.

Their heartbreak was over the lottery that is the penalty shoot-out, yet - surprisingly - no-one wanted a replay.

If there was disappointment over not being able to be at Wembley to cheer on the team "face-to-face", they were hiding it well.

They were loud. Close your eyes and you could have been at the famous old stadium such was the atmosphere.

And from these performances there are some messages to be passed on. Hear this Sam Allardyce: your legions of fans have been found, in good voice, in the pubs of Bolton.

Listen-up supporters: Big Sam needs you down at the Reebok Stadium to cheer the lads into the play-offs.

That, according to fans, will be the next target. Two semi-finals aren't bad - a promotion to the big league is even better.

And that is where they could be heading - with a second Wembley trip still in the offing.

Miles Jackson, a 25-year-old from Bolton, summed it up perfectly: "Villa were the First Division club today. We were the Premiership team." Lostock ARMS, Lostock Junction Lane, Lostock

THE Lostock Arms was packed with fans who couldn't make the trip to Wembley, roaring at the big screens in frustration as chance after chance went begging.

Two large screen and five televisions meant no-one was going to miss a second in the darkened, but light, atmosphere of the staunch Wanderers pub.

Steve Cooper, aged 33, from Westhoughton, said: "I couldn't get down to Wembley because I couldn't afford it but this is the next best thing.

"The first half was just Bolton all the way. They really piled it on."

Les Orrell, 31, also from Horwich, agreed: "They did really well to get here."

The feeling that Bolton were going to pip Aston Villa and take their place in the final for the last Wembley showdown was very much in evidence in the first half. Gareth Bennett, 40, from Lostock, said: "We had the most possession and got behind the ball well. All it needed was that final push and I think we would have had a goal."

Fans were making prediction throughout the match. Graham Darcy, 37, from Tyldesley, speaking as the second half got underway, said: "It looks like, if anything, it will be a draw. I can't see there being more than goal in it."

In the event he was right. Sid Strong, 35, from Bolton, said: "Bolton were great in the first half. Villa came into it a bit more for the second but Wanderers deserved it overall.

"It's shame it was at Wembley and not somewhere like Old Trafford. I think a lot more would have gone otherwise." DURTY NELLYS, Bradshawgate, Bolton

BOLTON'S Irish pub was surprisingly scarce with only a smattering of fans.

Yet it didn't hamper their spirits as they roared their team on.

Darren Johnson, 34, from Astley Bridge, said: "They played so well. It a battling team that did so much more than in last year's Watford defeat."

YATES'S WINE LODGE, Bradshawgate, Bolton

WALKING through the doors of Yates's was like entering an extension of the Reebok Stadium of old.

The noise of the drinking punters could be heard outside.

And inside the atmosphere was electric as fans noisily stood before a giant screen - standing together in their desire for a Wembley win. So when Dion Dublin smashed home Aston Villa's final penalty the ensuing silence was just as deafening.

And fans found it hard to pick themselves up, consoling themselves with the fact that their team hadn't been beaten, merely snubbed by a few one-on-one shots at their goalkeeper.

The supporters were as sick as a parrot:

Peter Stone, 34, from Astley Bridge, said: "Villa needed penalties to beat us. We are still the best and I just want to say one thing: we'll be back in the play-off final."

Jane Austerderry, 23, agreed: "It's a tragedy because the team battled so hard for 120 minutes only to end up losing on penalties." Mark Owen, 26, from Blackburn, proudly sported his Bolton Wanderers kit, and, beer in hand, bemoaned his team's lack of luck. He said: "We deserved to win. At the end of the day we dominated that match. Aston Villa were awful."

Julie Norris, 21, from Bolton, shook her head and said: "I am gutted. Right at the end . . . terrible."

Suzanne Hall, from Smithills, wouldn't even talk. "Don't ask," she said. "We never do it on penalties."

Meanwhile, David Harwood, 23, from Kearsley, was dumfounded, adding: "We should have won. It was a good performance from the team. A replay? No, I'm quite happy with penalties to be honest despite the result." Austin Dickson, 26, from Tonge Moor, said: "We were miles better and they should have won it without it going to penalties."

Bernard Donnely, 26, from Little Lever, was "extremely disappointed." He said: "They put on a top performance. It should have been another trip to Wembley for us."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.