Encouraging start for the Coyle regime

Bolton’s new boss Owen Coyle could hardly have been handed a trickier first fixture with his new club – a home tie against an in-form Arsenal side. The Gunners ran out deserved 2-0 winners but there were some encouraging signs to take away from the home side’s display.

Under previous boss Gary Megson Bolton offered very little in attack and were a very one-dimensional side. The Wanderers played route-one football, set-pieces seemed to be the only way they knew how to score (16 of 26 goals so far from dead ball situations) but against Arsenal there were plenty of chances from open play. Indeed, if Matt Taylor or Ivan Klasnic had been a little more clinical the score-line could have been very different.

A home tie against Arsenal was never going to be easy for Coyle and Bolton but they played well and opened up the visitors on more than one occasion. Korean youngster Lee Chung-Yong looked dangerous on the break and could benefit from a few more like minded players in the Bolton line-up, which I’m sure Coyle will be searching for during the current transfer window and in the summer.

The factor that perhaps led to Arsenal’s second goal was the fact Bolton were pushing forward in search of an equaliser, they committed men forward in a way that wasn’t evident in the time Megson managed the club. When you’re a goal down you have to attack – and Bolton paid the price, but against lesser teams (of which there are many) this tactic will inevitably pay off at times.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas made a huge difference for Arsenal, scoring the first and playing a major part in the second. When the Spanish sensation turns it on there really is no stopping him and Bolton just didn’t have an answer. However, they won’t have to face Fabregas every week and after just a week in charge Coyle had Bolton playing attacking football with more energy than the Reebok faithful have seen for some time.

It doesn’t get any easier for Coyle in the immediate future, the Wanderers face Arsenal again on Wednesday (Jan 20) in a rearranged fixture at the Emirates. Few will be expecting Bolton to get anything out of Arsenal but after an encouraging performance against the Gunners things could begin to pick up when easier opponents come along. On Tuesday January 26 Bolton welcome Burnley, Coyle’s former club, to the Reebok, that should be a fiery encounter – and one Coyle will be desperate to win.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing tips and Cheltenham 2010.

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