Frustrated Coyle blasts players’ lack of character

BOLTON boss Owen Coyle blasted his players for a lack of character after an eighth defeat in nine Premier League matches at the Reebok Stadium left them deep in relegation trouble.

The Trotters ended a run of five straight losses with victory at Blackburn in midweek to climb off the bottom, but they could not follow that up as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle.

After a poor first-half, the game was settled inside three minutes midway through the second as Hatem Ben Arfa opened the scoring in the 69th minute and Demba Ba swiftly added his 14th goal of the season.