Birmingham Mail: STILIYAN Petrov has promised to deliver much more of his undoubted quality to Aston Villa's cause as he admitted he has fallen short of expectations. The Bulgarian international has struggled for so much of the two seasons since his £6.5million move from Celtic. But he is able today to bask in the glory of a fine performance against Bolton in which he was given a standing ovation as he left the field. It was a far cry from his last Villa Park outing when he was substituted at half-time against Newcastle, fully two months ago. "I know I haven't been performing the way everybody expects me to do, but I'm the first to criticise myself," he said. Petrov has thanked the supporters for standing by him. "The reaction from the fans when I came off was great", Petrov said. "The fans were terrific. I know what I can do and they will see that more and more. "I get frustrated as well, but I've been working hard. I try to give my team-mates competition every day in training and it's going well at the moment. "Hopefully I will keep my place for the trip to Derby."

Birmingham Mail: STILIYAN Petrov believes Aston Villa's hunger is back. Martin O'Neill's side ended a run of three successive defeats with a comprehensive trouncing of Bolton. And Petrov says the hunt for a European place is now well and truly back on. Villa trail Everton by eight points with five games to go, but can clinch an InterToto spot by pipping chief rivals Blackburn and Manchester City with Portsmouth not entering. Villa hold the advantage after last weekend's results and that is a big turnaround after the doom and gloom following the heavy defeat at Manchester United. "We all knew that if we wanted to fight for that European place we had to put on a good fight and we did that," said Petrov. "I think in the last few weeks we lost that hunger to go back and chase the ball and help each other. We saw on Saturday that was back. "Everybody was working hard. When we lost possession everybody tried to get closer to people and it worked out," he said.

Express and Star: Stiliyan Petrov has vowed Villa fans will finally start seeing the best of him after he regained form and confidence. The £6.5m signing received a standing ovation from fans when he was substituted in Saturday's 4-0 win over Bolton. That reaction was in stark contrast to his previous performance at Villa Park when he was substituted at half-time of the 4-1 win over Newcastle. Petrov was given a five-match 'time-out' by boss Martin O'Neill who took him out of the firing line. And it appears to have done the trick with the 28-year-old former Celtic man appearing to have regained his confidence and showing fans just how good he can be. "I know what I can do and they will see that more and more," said Petrov.

Sporting Life: Martin O'Neill believes Aston Villa duo Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young have become marked men after terrorising Barclays Premier League defenders this season. The duo have played a big part in Villa's push for a European spot and impressed sufficiently to earn England recognition from Fabio Capello although injury denied Agbonlahor the chance of making his debut. O'Neill has seen the way opposing teams are now starting to double up when marking Young and Agbonlahor but knows it is all part of the learning process for the young pair. He said: "If you have been a surprise one season, you are given a bit more respect in the second year and players won't treat you so lightly. "That has happened to Ashley and now almost inevitably it has happened to Gabby but he has still been able to elude good defenders. He has done very well. "With Ashley, I think there has been a definite shift in terms of teams closing him down quickly. "Even if playing against really top quality defenders, they are calling for a bit more help for themselves, getting midfielders to screen in front of them. "They are making sure there is less distance from themselves to the keeper so someone like Ashley doesn't get that much space to run into. But it is up to good players to be able to see that and do something about that."

Sky Sports: Martin O'Neill believes that Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor have become marked men. The duo have played a significant role in Aston Villa's push for a European spot this season, and have even forced their way into the international reckoning after a string of impressive displays. Their pace and trickery has seen them singled out by opposing defenders as the men to watch, but their manager feels that they have coped with the extra attention manfully. "If you have been a surprise one season, you are given a bit more respect in the second year and players won't treat you so lightly," said O'Neill. "That has happened to Ashley and now almost inevitably it has happened to Gabby but he has still been able to elude good defenders. He has done very well. "With Ashley, I think there has been a definite shift in terms of teams closing him down quickly. "Even if playing against really top quality defenders, they are calling for a bit more help for themselves, getting midfielders to screen in front of them. "They are making sure there is less distance from themselves to the keeper so someone like Ashley doesn't get that much space to run into. But it is up to good players to be able to see that and do something about that."