Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle has admitted his great admiration for Aston Villa counterpart Martin O'Neill.

Coyle stressed the former Wycombe, Leicester and Celtic manager had done a magnificent job at Villa.

He said: "They are fighting for fourth spot in the Champions League, having got to the final of the Carling Cup.

"They could have won that and now they're in the FA Cup semi-final.

"Martin has done an unbelievable job at Villa, as he has done at every club he's been at, and it's been success after success.

"That's not by accident, that's because they have a truly world-class manager at the helm. He's a very nice man, great company, very clever and very witty.

"Apart from being a good football manager, he's a genuinely nice person."