No dream start for Owen Coyle as Arsenal beat Bolton

BOLTON were unable to provide a winning start to Owen Coyle's tenure at the club, but the new manager saw enough in the 2-0 home defeat by Arsenal to encourage him in the race for Premier League survival.

Cesc Fabregas scored the opening goal in the 28th minute and then started the move which led to Fran Merida finishing off Bolton 12 minutes from time.

Coyle said: "I thought the level of performance was terrific. What we offered for the duration of the match would, on another day, have resulted in points – whether it be one or three. We were always in the game, particularly second half, and they weren't half-chances, they were real gilt-edged chances. We created chances from the first minute of the match and if you analyse that game I think we deserved a better result."

Meanwhile, former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill played down the significance of a verbal exchange with Aston Villa fans behind the home dugout during the latter stages of the goalless draw with West Ham.

O'Neill and Villa's goalkeeping coach Seamus McDonagh appeared to have words with several spectators as a frustrating share of the spoils with the Hammers reached its climax. The game ended with around half a dozen stewards positioned alongside and at the back of the home dugout but O'Neill was adamant what occurred was "not a big issue".

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola praised his team's performance in claiming a point which lifts them out of the bottom three. A string of fine saves from England goalkeeper Robert Green helped to keep Villa at bay.

Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen put the seal on his side's return to winning ways with the second goal in a 2-0 win against Fulham.