Coyle: there’s snow way this can continue

AS THE Blackburn fans celebrated the prospect of Owen Coyle’s association with their two most bitter rivals getting relegated this season, the Bolton manager was left with no choice but to acknowledge the reality of his new team’s situation.

With his old club Burnley looking destined for an immediate return to the Championship after their 5-2 hammering at Aston Villa, Coyle seems to be stuck in a mind-set of being encouraged by what he saw Bolton do in defeat against Arsenal and Manchester City, rather than the way they have performed in picking up two points from their matches against Fulham, Wigan and Blackburn.

The balance seems to have deserted him. Before his arrival, Bolton were a limited side but although he has been able to make them a little more solid – yesterday’s convincing defeat apart – what has been most surprising is that he has been unable to inject any life into their attacking options.