BOLTON threw themselves a Premiership lifeline with a 3- 1 over Aston Villa which dealt a massive blow to the home side's UEFA Cup hopes.

First half goals from Villa old boy Neil Cox and on-loan West Brom striker Bob Taylor plus a late effort from Nathan Blake sealed Bolton's first away win since the opening day of the season at Southampton.

Villa were quickly into their stride and Bolton keeper Keith Branagan blocked a low drive from Lee Hendrie as the visitors were forced onto the defensive.

But Colin Todd's side stunned the near full house by taking the lead with their first decisive move after 18 minutes.

Alan Thompson a possible target for Villa manager John Gregory threaded a pass through to Cox who got in front of the covering defender Alan Wright.

Cox was able to get in a low left-footed drive which crept past Mark Bosnich's despairing drive and into the net off the near post.

Villa retaliated and Branagan failed to hold onto a low Hendrie effort but, when the rebound fell to Dwight Yorke, he completely miskicked.

But four minutes before the interval Bolton went further ahead. Yorke's crossfield pass played Riccardo Scimeca, a replacement for the injured Steve Staunton, into trouble and let in Bob Taylor.

Taylor found himself with a free run on goal and he beat Bosnich inside his near post with a rising drive from the edge of the area.

Villa were soon back on the offensive in the second period and Milosevic saw a goalbound shot ricochet off a Bolton defender to safety.

Villa were not to be denied lan Taylor reduced the deficit with a spectacular goal after 56 minutes. Milosevic played the ball back to the Villa midfielder whose rising left-footed 25 yard effort flew past the stranded Branagan into the roof of the net.

Gregory then replaced Milosevic with Stan Collymore for his first action since having a cortisone injection to try cure a groin problem.

Villa's Julian Joachim came within inches of grabbing an equaliser when he toe-poked the ball over Branagan but the ball rebounded back off the bar into the hands of the grateful Bolton goalkeeper.

It was constant one-way traffic towards the Bolton goal but six minutes from time the visitors broke away to earn the corner from which they clinched their victory.

Thompson's corner picked out Blake at the near post and his header entered the net off the body of Bosnich.