Telegraph: Sorry to say so for Aston Villa fans, but this victory, following capitulation to Manchester United a week earlier, is neither confirmation of their upward mobility, nor is it proof of Bolton's blindfolded misery. There is nothing new in the game being cruel. Bolton, probably not for the first time, learned this early in the second half of their seeming free-fall, just when hovering close to redemption and a point. The first half had been dominated by Villa: John Carew, Garbiel Agbanlahor and Ashley Young swerved around Bolton's penalty area like bees in a clover field - only inadequate finishing restricting them to Gareth Barry's ninth-minute header. Strictly speaking, the match could already have been over - even though Bolton's Kevin Davies had cleverly chipped over goalkeeper Scott Carson to graze the crossbar. The problem is that there is uncertainty in Villa's defence: an occasional confusion in marking, in who shuts down who. The mix-ups sometimes embracing Carson, never mind that he has largely recovered from his Wembley nightmare against Croatia. They are some of the factors which prevent Martin O'Neill's Villa being as emphatic as their fast-flowing midfield play suggests they should be. On the other hand, Bolton are not as bad as their position near the foot of the table indicates.

Independent: The gateway to Europe remains ajar for Villa, whose equal biggest win of the Premier League season coincided with their opponents' joint heaviest defeat. O'Neill was rightly enthused by the dynamic counter-attacking of his side, especially Ashley Young. Stiliyan Petrov also had one of his best games for them and Young said: "Things hadn't been coming off for us but we started well and it was a great result. We wanted to get back to winning ways after the slump we've been through and this sets us up for the remaining games." The two clubs face contrasting outlooks and, from the words of the respective managers, don't we know it.

Independent: Man of the match: Barry.

Times: Aston Villa rediscovered a winning formula by switching to a midfield diamond and reminding everyone what a gem they have in Ashley Young. The England winger was granted a licence to roam by Martin O'Neill on Saturday and repaid him by reawakening the team's European ambitions. "It wasn't just in the hole," Young said of his manager's instructions. "It was go to the right, go to the left, just pop up wherever and get the ball. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was all about the team at the end of the day. We wanted to get back to winning ways after the slump we've been through and this sets us up for the remaining games of the season." Young has enjoyed a fine first full season at Villa Park, collecting two senior England caps, and he looked almost unplayable on Saturday because he was unmarkable. Young offered Villa a tactical freshness with which Bolton Wanderers, who are heading towards relegation on this evidence, could not cope. Bolton's spirit comes into question after this result and the defeat by Arsenal, during which they led 2-0 against ten men, the previous week, just as Villa showed that they retain the appetite for a challenge their opponents were taking on this time last year. Bolton qualified for the Uefa Cup by finishing seventh 12 months ago, but such a position would not bring Villa qualification. O'Neill's team need to finish the season with a gallop and this first win in six matches, before clashes with Derby County and Birmingham City, suggests they have it in them.

Times: Aston Villa (4-3-1-2): S Carson 4 - O Mellberg 6, Z Knight 5, M Laursen 6, W Bouma 7 - N Reo-Coker 5, S Petrov 7 (sub: W Routledge, 86min), G Barry 8 - A Young 7 (sub: P Berger, 83) - G Agbonlahor 6, J Carew 6 (sub: M Harewood, 77).

Sun: England prospect Ashley Young, given a roaming role, was magnificent. As was skipper Gareth Barry, who led from the front by scoring two and setting up the other two. The home side went ahead after just nine minutes. Young nipped past Kevin Davies to cross for unmarked Barry to head his first goal in open play this season. Young, a £9.65m arrival from Watford last January, was also involved in the second. He freed Barry down the left 11 minutes after half-time. And the skipper's inviting cross was whipped past Bolton keeper Ali Al Habsi by Gabriel Agbonlahor as he bagged his first goal since December. Barry made it 3-0 on the hour with the aid of a deflection before the unmarked Marlon Harewood headed home five minutes from time.

Sun: Dream Team ratings STAR MAN - GARETH BARRY (Villa) ASTON VILLA: Carson 6, Bouma 6, Mellberg 6, Knight 6, Laursen 7, Reo-Coker 6, Petrov 7 (Routledge 4), Barry 9, Young 9 (Berger 4), Carew 6 (Harewood 7), Agbonlahor 8. Subs not usd: Taylor, Salifou. Booked: Carew, Reo-Coker.

Guardian: Martin O'Neill certainly needed this victory. He has borne the look of a haunted man in recent weeks after failing to register a single victory in March, putting hopes of a European jaunt next season in severe jeopardy. But the effervescent swagger of his team returned in the second half as they cantered to their first win in six matches with Ashley Young, Villa's talented young winger, giving Fabio Capello a timely nudge. Young was one of the first players to suffer the hardline stance of the England coach last month, when he was selected for the squad to play against France and then unceremoniously booted out. He was irresistible here and should be a certainty for the England squad that plays the United States next month. "I was a little bit disappointed to be named [in the initial 30] and then get left out of the squad but then it's about showing you've got the character to bounce back," he said. "I just want to do well for the club and I'm pleased with how it all went well today and I'm looking forward to doing well for the rest of the season. I want to do as well as I can for the club and get us finishing as high up the league as possible, then the national side of things looks after itself."

Guardian: Man of the match: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Daily Mail: Gareth Barry was the star of the show, scoring twice and laying on goals for Gabriel Agbonlahor andMarlon Harewood, but Ashley Young also tormented Bolton in a roving role. When asked whether Young could be England's Cristiano Ronaldo, Villa boss Martin O'Neill sensibly avoided hyperbole, saying: "It's fair to say that Ashley has the same enthusiasm to take people on as Ronaldo. I don't want to tie him down and he's capable of beating all defenders, but I wouldn't want to draw enormous superlatives just because we won today."

Sporting Life: Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has vowed to force his way back into Fabio Capello's England plans after ending his four-month scoring drought. Agbonlahor was selected for Capello's first squad against Switzerland before having to withdraw through injury but failed to make the final 23 for the international in France last month. By his own admission Agbonlahor has not been at his very best during the last couple of months. But he found the net for the first time in 2008 and in 13 games with the second goal in Saturday's 4-0 triumph over Bolton, which keeps alive hopes of qualifying for Europe. Agbonlahor said: "It was difficult to take (being left out of the England squad) after being in the initial 30-man party but it shows I'm in Mr Capello's mind so I've got to keep trying to perform and hopefully I'll get back in there. "It shows you are on the brink, which is a good thing. It's a massive buzz to get into the top 30 players in the country and it's better to be called up and then left out than to be nowhere near the manager's plans in the first place. "I'm hoping it is third time lucky for me in the next game and that I'll stay in the manager's mind. You can't sulk about it. There were a few players who didn't get into the final squad. "Look at Jermain Defoe, who has been banging in the goals and still can't get in. "You can't be too upset about being left out. You've just got to think 'I've got where I am, now I've just got to keep improving and try and get right to the top'. "It doesn't knock your confidence because I know that I'm still young and I've got all my career ahead of me to play for my country."

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