Coyle puts points before style

Boss will adapt favoured style only when Trotters are safe

By Jamie Casey   Last updated: 12th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Coyle puts points before style

Coyle: Physical approach for now

Related links

Teams

Also see

Owen Coyle admits he has ditched his preferred style of play in a bid to put points on the board in Bolton's survival bid.

The Trotters boss took over the reins at the Reebok Stadium in January and, at 43, is regarded as one of the most exciting young managers in the Premier League.

Leaving behind his old club Burnley, whom he guided to the top flight, Coyle was expected to adopt the technical approach he used with the Clarets with his new players at Bolton.

After Tuesday's 4-0 drubbing at Sunderland, however, the Scot admits his side must revert to a more direct approach ahead of Saturday's meeting with relegation rivals Wigan.

"I am more concerned with winning points at the moment rather than shaping Bolton into my style of play," admitted Coyle.

"When I arrived Bolton were in the bottom three and we have now got ourselves out of that position but that doesn't mean the hard work is over.

"We managed good back-to-back wins over Wolves and West Ham and although it was a blow what happened in midweek in defeat at Sunderland it only underlined how much more we have to do to make sure we survive.

"There is a gradual evolvement into what we want, but Bolton have played 11 league games now since I arrived - seven away from home - and we are making progress.

"That has kept us out of the bottom three, but to stay out we must continue to do our business right and keep taking points. That is the only way to stay up.

Short-term

"What we are doing is short-term planning, but we have the belief that we will stay up. Once we have done that we will be able to put our stamp more on things and look beyond our current position."

The Latics will travel to the Reebok in buoyed spirits after inflicting a 1-0 defeat on Liverpool at the DW Stadium on Monday night.

Coyle admits he, and other managers in the lower half of the table, were hoping the Reds could do them a favour, but he was not surprised to see Wigan emerge victorious.

"I suppose we all sat and watched that game wanting Liverpool to win," the Scot admitted.

"But now it has happened and Wigan have the points, it is not a result that surprised me one bit.

"Wigan were at home, they are a good side and they have also beaten Chelsea this season, so nothing surprises me in the Premier League, it is a very close competition.

"That has been seen this season. The top three, four or six - whatever you want to call them - have shown they are capable of losing games to teams lower down. It has happened too often this season for it to be a fluke."

Post to your View!

Be the first to post a comment on this story

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private