Chance for Delaney to erase bad memories

Aston Villa defender Mark Delaney is hoping for a happier semi-final experience against Bolton in tonight's Carling Cup first-leg tie at the Reebok Stadium.

Delaney was reduced to tears the last time he faced Bolton in similar circumstances. He feared he had cost Villa a place in their first FA Cup Final in 43 years after he was sent off for two bookable offences in their meeting at Wembley in April 2000.

But his despair was ill-founded, with Villa surviving a lastminute miss by Dean Holdsworth before winning a penalty shootout.

Delaney said: "I'll never forget what happened at Wembley. I went into the dressing room thinking I had let the team, the fans and my family down.

"I was in tears. For that to happen at the end of my first season at Aston Villa was not what I wanted.

"But thankfully the boys got through and it was all forgotten about."

The Welshman is already looking ahead to the possibility of appearing in the final in Cardiff.

"It will be a big incentive for me knowing that if we get through against Bolton there will be the chance to play at the Millennium Stadium," he said.

Delaney said the Villa players must be mindful of next week's return clash when they hit the pitch tonight.

"Because there is another leg, it will be hard to go out tonight and try to win that game straight away. You could end up putting yourself out of the second leg,'' he said.

"I think we'll be going there in a cautious way, trying to defend well and looking to nick a goal."

Villa manager David O'Leary is optimistic of having a clean bill of health after striker Darius Vassell and midfielder Gavin McCann resumed training yesterday.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce confirmed that Nigerian playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha would lead the side out after delaying his departure to the African Nations Cup again.