Coyle: Time to reward fans

Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle wants his players to reward the home fans at the Reebok Stadium with a win against Sunderland at the weekend.

The Trotters have lost their four home games this season and the Scot now wants a response from his team against fellow strugglers the Black Cats.

“I want those players to go and reward the home fans,” Coyle told the Bolton News.

“They have stuck with the lads through some poor performances and saw them concede some easy goals, and that’s not nice to watch your team be on the end of a bad result.”

“We have to give a performance of the same standard as we did against Wigan and get some smiles back on faces.”

“We need them to come back again, as they have done, because we’ve sold as many season tickets as we have for years.”

“We need to make sure that if they are coming to support us, that we give them something to cheer about.”

Bolton’s four home defeats this season equals the amount they suffered in the entire 2010-11 campaign, and Coyle admits he was particularly hurt by the loss to Norwich City last time out.

“We were outstanding at the Reebok last year,” he said.

“We accept we had Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea but equally we were at home to Norwich as well.”

“That’s a game I keep going back to because it sticks in my throat.”