Aston Villa 1 Bolton 2:Bolton came from behind to earn a Premier League relegation lifeline and dragged Aston Villa into the thick of the survival battle with victory over Alex McLeish's side.

Villa broke the deadlock through Stephen Warnock after 61 minutes but were rocked by two goals in two minutes from Martin Petrov, with a penalty, and David Ngog.

The Trotters climbed above Blackburn into 18th spot, three points behind Villa and with a match in hand.

Villa, with five academy products in their side, made a positive start and could have gone ahead inside the first minute after Marc Albrighton won a corner. Charles N’Zogbia's centre picked out Chris Herd who headed inches over the bar.

Indecision in the Wanderers' back four almost set up a chance for Emile Heskey who half-volleyed over the bar at full stretch.

N’Zogbia was lively in the early stages and a testing cross carried just too much weight for Andreas Weimann to make a proper contact.

Bolton came more into the game and Nathan Baker blocked a shot from Chris Eagles after he exchanged passes with Ryo Miyaichi.

A flick from Heskey almost played in Weimann but Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan reacted quickly to clear from the edge of the box.

Heskey was looking impressive and forced Bogdan to save away to his left with a shot on the turn.

Warnock was denied by the woodwork after 38 minutes when his 15-yard drive rattled the bar after he had been teed up by Albrighton.

N’Zogbia clipped the outside of the post with a 30-yard free-kick a minute before the interval.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle made a half-time substitution with striker Kevin Davies replacing Miyaichi.

Davies was soon in the thick of the action, climbing at the far post to attack a deep Petrov cross, but his header did not trouble Shay Given.

Bolton were coming more into the game although Chris Eagles failed to make proper contact on a 20-yard shot which Given collected. The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper then had to be alert to parry away a dipping 35-yard free-kick from the same player soon after.

Villa were looking more vulnerable and it was left to Heskey to clear after the ball had bobbled about inside their six-yard box. But after 61 minutes Warnock broke the deadlock when he turned home a right-wing cross from N’Zogbia.

Bolton retaliated and stung the home side by netting twice in two minutes to go in front.

Petrov levelled from the penalty spot within 60 seconds after Carlos Cuellar was adjudged to have brought down Mark Davies.

Then Eagles had the time and space to pick out Ngog, who made no mistake from eight yards out.