Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill hailed his team's character after victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Ashley Young struck the only goal of the game which came on the back of Villa's 7-1 thrashing by Chelsea last week.

When asked about the team's character, O'Neill added: "Well I thought it was immense really because it's been a long old week.

"We let ourselves down badly last week in the half-hour of the game. But putting things into perspective with the sort of season that the players have been enjoying here, I think that maybe got missed along the way.

"However, it doesn't matter, we still had to come and fight today and I think we showed immense character. I know that word is over-used, certainly in football, but today we showed exactly that.

"The players have got tonnes (of character), they wouldn't get into this position if they didn't have it and I have been delighted with their response and everything else that went with it.

"Overall I'm really pleased with the team. I thought we tried to play it, we got the goal, we got the confidence from the goal. Then we set about making some chances after that and playing some really nice football.

"But Bolton were never out of the game and we could have really done with the second goal, it obviously didn't happen today but we've seen the game through pretty well."

When asked about Ashley Young's form this season, the Villa manager remarked: "I think he has kicked on and I think there is a real blossoming career there for him.

"He's far from reached his peak and he can only go on."