UK, Jan 28: Bolton boss Sam Allardyce saluted his players' battling spirit after they saw off Aston Villa's late onslaught to book a place in the Carling Cup final. "It was an unbelievable battle and we've done it the hard way, but we've done it," said Allardyce.

"I am speechless from all that shouting in the last five minutes.

"We could just not pick them off and get the goal we needed. It was bedlam after their second goal. We finally hung on and it was well deserved."

Allardyce added: "We were not so good tonight, but I knew we needed three goals. We were missing crucial players, but it was a battling effort from the lads. "We knew it was going to be a real battle. After the game settled down we played reasonable football, but with no end product.

"We can look forward to it now and it does not matter what happens tomorrow.

"I'm delighted. This is the first cup final I've reached as either a player or a manager."

The Bolton manager will have midfield playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha back for the final at the Millennium Stadium on 29 February.

Okocha is currently away on international duty with Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations. He scored twice in Bolton's 5-2 first leg win over Villa and his absence from the starting line-up was particularly noticeable as the Trotters failed to get a foothold in the game. Bureau Report