Stoke 2-2 Bolton: Coyle left aggrieved as Bolton plunge into the Championship

Owen Coyle was left to rue some contentious refereeing decisions as his Bolton team’s 11-year stay in the Barclays Premier League came to an end following a 2-2 draw at Stoke.

The Trotters knew only victory at the Britannia Stadium, coupled with defeat for QPR at Manchester City, would be good enough to keep them in the top flight. Things were going Bolton’s way at half-time, with bizarre goals from Mark Davies and Kevin Davies cancelling out a controversial opener from Jon Walters, while City were also ahead.

But QPR came back to lead and then Walters equalised from the penalty spot, while City’s dramatic turnaround meant Bolton’s fate was only back in their own hands when the final whistle had blown in Stoke and it was already too late. Coyle reserved much of his anger for referee Chris Foy, who allowed Walters’ 13th-minute opener to stand despite the striker appearing to head the ball out of Adam Bogdan’s hands, and the Bolton manager also felt the goalkeeper should not have been penalised for felling Crouch to concede the penalty 13 minutes from time.

“It’s hard to take,” said Coyle. “We had a slow start in the game but I think the events that happened today – and I know people will talk about sour grapes – how can that first goal be allowed when Adam Bogdan had clearly got the ball in his hands? Jonathan Walters sticks his head and his elbow halfway up Adam’s arm, I find it incredible. I’ve been in to see the officials – I’ve done that a lot this season and I can’t say you come out any the wiser. But we bounced back, got 2-1 in front, had chances to make it 3-1. Crouch has a great chance and Adam makes a great save, but in the aftermath Crouch has knocked it by Adam and it’s actually Crouch who’s clambered into Adam. I don’t think we’ve come out on top of the decisions today, but we’ve picked ourselves up again. Lee Chung-yong had a good chance to get that third goal and then Tim Ream’s header in the last minute, where the keeper’s made a great save. That’s the margins in this league. If that goes in, we’re still in the Premier League.”

It was a cruel end to a difficult season for Bolton, who have been beset by long-term injuries to key players and also had to deal with the trauma of Fabrice Muamba’s on-pitch cardiac arrest. The midfielder’s remarkable recovery will put relegation into some perspective, but Coyle added: “There’s nothing that takes away from the disappointment. My feelings are not for me, they’re for our wonderful support and the chairman and the owner. It’s a wonderful club. The players are very quiet and sombre, it’s not a feeling I’ve become accustomed to as a manager but it’s happened and it’s about how you react to adversity. We will regroup and we’ll look to bounce back straight away.”