Coyle upbeat over survival chances

Bolton boss Owen Coyle is convinced his side can win at Stoke next Sunday and bank on other results to secure Barclays Premier League survival – and has told Trotters fans they have a vital part to play.

Bolton’s capitulation against West Brom on Sunday when they led 2-0 only to be dragged back to 2-2 at the death, means they must win at the Britannia Stadium to stand any chance of staying up.

And Coyle is convinced his side can pull off a great escape given their form on their travels this season, which has yielded six wins – only two sides outside the top five can claim more.

Coyle said: “We were always going to have to go to Stoke and get a result. We have to make sure we are on top of our game when we go to the Britannia Stadium next Sunday.

“Given the way we have played on our travels this year and the results that we have picked up, we are more than capable. Football is a game of high drama and things can change very quickly.

“We really do appreciate the backing our fans continue to give us. We are taking a sell-out allocation to Stoke and we will need every single fan behind us at the Britannia Stadium.”

Coyle faces an anxious wait to discover if two of his most influential players can take part in the crucial showdown, after Martin Petrov and David Wheater were both substituted with knocks against the Baggies.

Meanwhile West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace will step up his search for a replacement for England-bound Roy Hodgson this week, with a club spokesman confirming it is an “ongoing process”.

Baggies striker Shane Long believes that whoever replaces Hodgson will inherit a team capable of pushing on and improving on a current campaign that is now set to deliver a place in the top half of the table.

Long told Albion’s official website: “We don’t know how to lose at the moment and it’s a good frame of mind to be in. We don’t give up easily and that will stand us in good stead for next season.

“To show the determination to want to win games is a credit to us. We’ve had some really good results away from home this season and I think it’s because we always have a good turnout of fans.”