Aston Villa returned to winning ways and deepened Bolton's relegation fears with a 4-0 thrashing at Villa Park.

England midfielder Gareth Barry scored a double to help end Villa's five-game winless run. The first came after just nine minutes when the 27-year-old headed in a cross from Ashley Young.

Barry then turned provider for the second, as Gabriel Agbonlahor ended his 12-match goalscoring drought to net number two on 54 minutes.

The double came for Barry on the hour mark, when his left-footed strike took a deflection off Joey O'Brien to bamboozle Oman goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi.

And Marlon Harewood finished the Trotters off by scoring just seven minutes after coming onto the pitch.

The visitors were not without their fair share of chances, however, and did not sit back for the majority of the game.

They almost levelled when Kevin Davies's cross beat Scott Carson before going over the the bar.

Matthew Taylor then almost gave his side hope as his accurate free-kick was deflected for a corner.

As the game drew to a close, Villa left the pitch with increased hopes of earning a spot in Europe.

Bolton, meanwhile, are one step closer to becoming only the third team to be relegated from the English top flight 10 times.

Rebecca Hevingham / Eurosport