Owen Coyle denied fielding a weakened team against Blackburn as Bolton hobble towards the season's finish line.
Bolton boss says injuries forced experimental line-up
Bolton boss Owen Coyle denied fielding a weakened team against Blackburn as the club hobble towards the season's finish line.
The Trotters, comfortable in the top half of the Premier League table, lost to relegation-threatened Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday, with Martin Olsson's neat finish the only goal of the game.
Coyle handed starts to youngsters Adam Bogdan and Rodrigo Moreno, but he pointed to his lengthy injury list when questioned on his line-up, which also included Tamir Cohen and Ricardo Gardner.
Bolton were missing Daniel Sturridge, Gretar Steinsson, Sam Ricketts, Stuart Holden and Sean Davis through injury and Coyle says he has been forced to make full use of his squad.
"We wanted the points to continue the progress that we've made this year," he told
Sky Sports.
"We've made enormous strides this year and, as I've said to the players, we want to make sure we finish the season strongly.
Depleted
"Given that we're depleted and that it was a makeshift team we put together, we gave everything we could to get back in the game and we were dangerous on the counter-attack.
"But there's no doubt the squad has been tested to the limit, there's been a lot of games for us, but the lads gave everything they could to try and achieve a result.
"We feel disappointed to have left with nothing.
"The disappointing thing is that we've shot ourselves in the foot with the goal - we gave it away in a good position for ourselves and then it's a terrific finish from the lad."
Next up for Bolton is the visit of Sunderland to the Reebok Stadium before a trip to Blackpool, followed by Manchester City at home on the final day of the season.
Coyle, whose side are eighth in the table, insists there is still a lot to play for with the Trotters well on course for a top-half finish.
"We've got three games to come, two home and one away, and we want to get as many points as we can to make sure that we finish in a nice position in the Premier League."
