Coyle urges players to use Wembley agony

Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle wants his players to use last weekend’s disastrous 5-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat as a springboard to success.

Coyle’s men have been licking their wounds after being hammered by Stoke City at Wembley but are ready to bounce back when they host Arsenal on Sunday.

“The bottom line is it happened and there is no getting away from how hurtful and how disappointing it was – particularly for the fans who came in huge numbers,” Coyle said.

“Anything that could have gone wrong did.”

“It was a horrible day and nobody saw it coming.”

“We certainly cannot affect that now and there is no doubt that hurt will always stay with you.”

“We had an opportunity to reach the final and did not take it.”

“Now we have to pick ourselves up and go again, it is as simple as that.”

“You can do one of two things: either feel sorry for yourselves or get up in the morning and look to do something about it.”

Coyle has been working hard on the training ground to make sure his team is stronger in the long run.

“In response to last weekend we have been looking to improve both individually and collectively,” he said.

“We have been working hard on the training ground because that is where you get your reward.”

“And now we need to go and replicate that in matches.”

“As a manager I think we have certainly had a degree of success and a lot of down moments as well but that only makes you stronger.”

Bolton will definitely be without defender Sam Ricketts (calf) and midfielders Stuart Holden (knee) and Mark Davies (ankle).