Coyle eyes sizeable points return from key period

BOLTON manager Owen Coyle believes the next month could shape his side’s destiny.

First up in the Barclays Premier League are Wigan tonight at the DW Stadium, and that match is followed by a run of key league fixtures.

Bolton face Blackburn, Wolves, West Ham, Sunderland and Wigan again before March is out and Coyle knows it is an important spell in their bid to avoid relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship.

He said: “No matter who you play in this league you want to pick up points.

“However, this is a group of games with teams in and around us. It is up to us to try and maximise these opportunities.

“Nobody is going to hand it to us. We are going to have to be at our very best to get our rewards.”

Coyle expects a rough ride against an inconsistent Wigan side.

He said: “It is a massive game for both clubs, no doubt. No-one likes being in the bottom three. It is up to ourselves to get out of it.

“Roberto Martinez has a team that likes to pass and move the ball. They are a good side with some big powerful players as well.

“But we have the opportunity to leap up the table and that is what we are aiming to do.”

Wigan boss Martinez, meanwhile, admits he is concerned about the state of the DW Stadium pitch – but has warned his players they must adapt.

The Spaniard concedes the pitch is not conducive to the football he and new Bolton boss Coyle might want to play, but insists there can be no excuses with important points at stake tonight.

Martinez said: “We are always trying to play the right way.

“The pitch is probably not helping us now but we need to be able to adapt and make sure we are a bit ruthless and know how to get the points that are so vital.

“We have got to make sure we adapt to it. The way we want to play, we could do with a good surface, but football is about adapting to the circumstances. We are going to do that.”