GARY Megson’s glass was definitely half full after watching his side comfortably contain Champions League-chasing Aston Villa.

While the manager admitted the standard of football on show at the Reebok was hardly the stuff of vintage, he toasted the effort put in by his players against a side that has been rubbing shoulders with the top four all season.

“We have just played a team that cost a huge amount of money and matched them in every department,” he said.

“I didn’t think they had been immeasurably better than us in the first half but there we were, 1-0 down.

“Even in the second half we haven’t played any champagne football, but in terms of effort, desire, honesty and a sheer will to succeed, we have managed to get a point against one of the biggest teams in the country. We have to be pleased with that.”

Villa went into the game without a win in 11 but had had the Indian sign over the Whites in recent encounters.

But they looked a pale imitation of the team who had stormed to a 4-2 victory at Villa Park in December, and Megson admitted the game was there for the taking in the second half after Tamir Cohen had cancelled out Ashley Young’s lucky opener.

Wanderers paid for their early exertion, however, and failed to claim the victory that would have guaranteed their Premier League spot for next season.

“We always tend to look out on our feet in the last 10 minutes because of the effort we have to expend in the first 80,” Megson said.

“We don’t keep the ball well enough and don’t get a breather when we are in possession. We’re flat out all the time.

“Whilst in instances that can be a remarkably good thing, at other times it can cause you problems, and that happened against Villa.

“We looked to a subs’ bench where all seven players haven’t cost us a single penny. There are a lot of loans, kids who have come through, and free transfers, yet we’re playing in the biggest league in the world. There wasn’t a lot there that we could change.”

Wanderers had two penalty claims in the last half hour for pushes on Tamir Cohen, by Carlos Cuellar, and on Gary Cahill, by John Carew.

“I think there’s more of a chance of seeing a unicorn on our pitch than seeing us given a penalty for something like that,” Megson joked. “Those things don’t happen at Bolton and the strange thing is, we don’t even appeal at this place anymore.”