Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has praised striker Gabriel Agbonlahor for his performance under duress this season.

Without fellow forward John Carew, Agbonlahor has had to carry the load for the Villains and after a double against Bolton on the weekend, O'Neill was full of praise.

"I thought he was terrific at Everton but, because for periods of the game we were really under the cosh and maybe Gabby didn't have three clear cut chances, people thought the game passed him by," said O'Neill.

"But against Bolton he added goals and his performance was sensational - but then I think his performances for us since John Carew has gone out of the side have reached a really high level.

"Against Bolton, even with us being second best in the first 20 minutes and not getting a tempo going, I thought that with playing balls down the side, he was going to cause them problems.

"Gabby has always had that pace to trouble sides but his all-round game has come on so much during the past two years."