Kevin Davies rediscovered his goalscoring touch to salvage a Barclaycard Premiership point for Bolton at The Reebok Stadium.

He was back on target for the first time in 10 league games after signing a new one-year contract.

The goal came as welcome relief to Bolton, who had lost five of their previous six top-flight games.

Youri Djorkaeff returned to the team after a four-match absence because of a hamstring problem.

Defenders Bruno N'Gotty (shin) and Simon Charlton (groin) were also back after injuries.

Striker Peter Crouch, who replaced top scorer Juan Pablo Angel as he is suffering from a knee injury, marked his return to the team with the opening goal.

Henrik Pedersen pulled Bolton level only for the visitors to regain the lead through Lee Hendrie.

Djorkaeff was quickly into the action and collected a loose ball in the penalty area, only to hook a shot wide.

Villa responded and Gavin McCann tried to pick out Crouch but goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen made the interception.

Djorkaeff then floated in a corner from the left and N'Gotty headed wide at the back post.

Bolton strode forward again and Davies headed a delivery from Charlton across the area but there was no-one on hand to take advantage.

Bolton found themselves on the back foot after 17 minutes when Gareth Barry tried his luck from distance, only for his shot to go wide.

Villa took the lead two minutes later when the lanky Crouch made the breakthrough.

He got on the end of a deep cross from Barry to head past Jaaskelainen, although the goalkeeper got a hand to the ball.

Bolton were stunned but battled back and Frandsen tested goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen with a lob from 25 yards.

Villa, however, were growing in confidence and Lee Hendrie fired narrowly wide after being released by Darius Vassell.

Bolton defender Anthony Barness picked out Henrik Pedersen in the penalty area but his touch let him down.

Villa goalkeeper Sorensen had to look lively to parry a fierce shot from Jay-Jay Okocha as the home side kept up the pressure.

Okocha then released Pedersen with a good through-ball but the Danish striker was crowded out.

Sorensen foiled Bolton's chances of an equaliser in the 39th minute, turning away a powerful drive from Frandsen after Djorkaeff has squared the ball too him.

It was end-to-end with Vassell popping up a minute later to clear the bar from close range after skipping away from N'Gotty.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce made a change at half-time with Hunt coming on for Charlton, who had been troubled by a groin problem.

Hunt slotted in at right-back with Barness switching to the left.

Bolton began the second half brightly and Sorensen did well to parry a shot from Kevin Nolan.

The home side equalised in the 48th minute through Pedersen after some poor defending by Villa.

A clearance from Ulises de la Cruz rebounded off Okocha into the path of Pedersen and he made no mistake from close range.

Villa, however, regained the lead in the 53rd minute with a sweet finish from Hendrie after Barry had sprung the offside trap.

Jaaskelainen then had to look alert in the 58th minute when he turned away a shot from Vassell.

There was a brief skirmish after Hunt was left sprawling in the area with Crouch handed a yellow card for his part in the incident.

Hendrie also picked up a booking from Matt Messias for dissent.

Bolton hit back and Davies picked out Pedersen but he failed to take advantage despite being in a good position.

Crouch was then replaced by the experienced Dion Dublin in the 68th minute.

Djorkaeff should have pulled Bolton level in the 81st minute but headed wide from Okocha's cross in front of the posts.

That was the last act by the French star as he was replaced by Greece winger Stelios Giannakopoulos.

Dublin and Thomas Hitzlsperger both went close before Davies levelled for Bolton in the 86th minute when he got on the end of a good delivery from Giannakopoulos.

Teams

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Barness, N'Gotty, Thome, Charlton (Hunt 45), Frandsen, Nolan (Campo 79), Djorkaeff (Giannakopoulos 81), Okocha, Pedersen, Davies.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Javi Moreno.

Booked: Campo.

Goals: Pedersen 48, Davies 86.

Aston Villa: Sorensen, De la Cruz, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Samuel, Hendrie (Whittingham 79), Barry, McCann, Hitzlsperger, Crouch (Dublin 68), Vassell (Luke Moore 65).

Subs Not Used: Postma, Johnsen.

Booked: Hendrie, Crouch, Luke Moore.

Goals: Crouch 18, Hendrie 53.

Att: 26,374

Ref: M Messias (N Yorkshire).