Sam Allardyce endured a nervous return to the Reebok Stadium but was ultimately left celebrating as Bolton secured European qualification for only the second time in their 133-year history.

Allardyce quit as Trotters boss on April 29 after seven and a half hugely successful years in charge and seems certain to be unveiled as Newcastle manager early next week.

Yet the 52-year-old still found time to accept an invitation from Phil Gartside to attend the game and take up his old seat in the directors' box next to the Bolton chairman.

A tense encounter saw Villa snatch a deserved point in the 81st minute when substitute Luke Moore fired home to tie the scores at 2-2.

But Reading's failure to win at Blackburn ensured Bolton finished the season a point clear of the Royals in seventh spot to clinch a coveted UEFA Cup berth.

That ensured a tangible and rich reward for new Trotters boss Sammy Lee and the team that Allardyce built.

It is worth remembering that Allardyce guided the unfashionable Lancashire club into Europe for the first time ever last season.

This term they have rarely been out of the European places but a turbulent end to the campaign, and a five-match winless streak, threatened a final-day disaster.

Villa arrived at the Reebok Stadium unbeaten in eight games and twice came back to equalise after goals from Gary Speed and Kevin Davies had given Bolton the lead.

But a point proved enough and allowed Allardyce to depart the Reebok Stadium with a sense of satisfaction at seeing the job completed before he heads for Tyneside.

Villa's huge following taunted Bolton fans with chants of "Big Sam is a Geordie now" and there was no shortage of entertainment on the pitch either.

The visitors' attacking triumvirate of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and John Carew quickly threatened to tear Bolton apart.

In the fourth minute Agbonlahor latched onto a loose ball inside the home penalty box and drew a smart stop from Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Patrik Berger miskicked from the rebound but Villa had an even clearer opportunity moments later when Young swung in a corner from the left and Carew volleyed wide from six yards out.

Carew lacked the pace needed to follow up his own good work in the 27th minute when he engineered his way past a clutch of Bolton defenders only for Jaaskelainen to scupper his progress.

Rookie Villa midfielder Craig Gardner earned a yellow card from referee Mark Clattenburg on the half hour mark with a cynical lunge at Abdoulaye Faye.

But, as the half wore on, Bolton began to dominate and they struck the opening blow in the 32nd minute with a fine finish from Speed.

Nicolas Anelka's delightful first-time flick from a long free-kick gave the onrushing Speed a shooting chance just eight yards from goal.

The veteran campaigner stayed calm to slot the ball home right-footed for his eighth goal this term.

Yet the lead did not last long as Villa claimed a brilliant equaliser out of nothing.

A long, hopeful punt from goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen was flicked on by the towering Carew 25 yards from goal, but there seemed little danger.

Gardner, however, clearly had other ideas and he displayed remarkable poise and technique to stride forward and blast a superb 16-yard volley past Jaaskelainen.

Both sides made enforced changes at the break, Bolton replacing Anelka with Idan Tal and pushing Kevin Nolan up front alongside Davies.

Sorensen also succumbed to injury following the earlier challenge by Nolan and he was replaced between the posts by Stuart Taylor.

Bolton struggled to settle after the break and in the 53rd minute Villa should have led when Young produced a pinpoint cross and Carew headed wide from six yards.

That marked a lucky escape for Bolton and they duly took advantage by forging ahead shortly before the hour mark.

Again the goal came from a free-kick, this time Ricardo Gardner flighting in a deep delivery which Tal nodded into Davies' path.

Davies still had plenty to do but an adroit piece of footwork outfoxed Aaron Hughes and gave him the space to fire home left-footed from eight yards.

Villa, however, continued to probe and got the goal their endeavour deserved with nine minutes remaining.

Young raced to the byline and produced another telling cross which reached Carew at the near post.

The towering Norwegian deflected the ball into the path of Moore, whose right-foot volley rifled inside Jaaskelainen's near post.

That ensured a tense finale but, thankfully for Bolton and Allardyce, Reading's draw at Blackburn meant it was the Trotters who are heading back to the Continent.

Teams:

Bolton Jaaskelainen, Ben Haim, Meite, Michalik, Gardner,Nolan, Faye, Campo, Speed (Vaz Te 55), Davies, Anelka (Tal 46).

Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Teymourian, Sinclair.

Booked: Ben Haim, Faye.

Goals: Speed 32, Davies 58.

Aston Villa Sorensen (Taylor 46), Hughes, Mellberg, Laursen,Bouma (Davis 77), Agbonlahor, Gardner, Barry,Berger (Moore 74), Carew, Young.

Subs Not Used: McCann, Cahill.

Booked: Gardner.

Goals: Gardner 37, Moore 81.

Att: 26,255

Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).