Bolton book final date

First-leg advantage
Leading 5-2 from last week's exhilarating first leg at the Reebok stadium, Sam Allardyce's side lost 2-0 at Villa Park tonight but still won through to the final. The competition winners will take part in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup.

Early lead
English international Darius Vassell twice came close to putting Villa in front in the opening exchanges, before Thomas Hitzlsperger reduced the arrears in the tenth minute, curling in an unstoppable free-kick from just outside the penalty area.

Turning point
The home team continued to enjoy more possession and pressed the visitors back for much of the first half, but the tide turned six minutes before the interval when Villa midfield player Gavin McCann was sent off following a challenge on Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jääskeläinen and a subsequent confrontation with Bolton defender Emerson Thome.

Frantic finale
Villa remained the more adventurous side in the second half but struggled to create clear chances and it was not until two minutes from time that they scored again. Jlloyd Samuel's strike set up a frantic finish, but David O'Leary's men were unable to find the second goal they needed to force the match into extra time, and Bolton held on.

Second semi-final
The second semi-final takes place on Wednesday, when Middlesbrough FC seek to preserve a 1-0 first-leg advantage against Arsenal FC at the Riverside stadium. The final will be played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 29 February.