Coyle often recounts how the Trotters were second from bottom and in dire danger of relegation when he completed a controversial switch from Burnley to succeed Gary Megson in January 2010. The problem is Bolton are now only one place higher after a difficult start to the campaign, when a run of tough fixtures against the Premier League's big guns was followed by a succession of injuries which have bitten deep into Coyle's squad. However, ahead of Saturday's showdown with Everton at the Reebok Stadium, no matter what the statistics might say, Coyle is adamant progress has been made. And he is utterly convinced that when the final standings are confirmed in May, Bolton will be nowhere near the relegation zone. "There has been huge improvement at this club," said Coyle. "We are two years down the line and the things we have put in place in terms of infrastructure have made it a better place. "I have to stress, where we are at the moment is due to a number of things, some of which are out of our control. "What I have to do is see through that and look at the bigger picture. "It is not bravado, I know that by the end of the season, we will not be in the bottom three." However, Coyle does recognise his defiance counts for only so much. Normally one of the most careful managers in the Premier League with his statements, it says a lot that Coyle declared himself to be angry with his side's second-half performance at West Brom last week. By tossing away a winning position, Bolton cost themselves a long-awaited back-to-back victory, ruining the momentum generated the previous week when they put five goals past Stoke. It is the type of inconsistency any manager would find frustrating and Coyle accepts it must be eradicated. "It is fine me talking about us being good enough to move up the league. We have to deliver," he said. "The players have shown in some of their performances how good they can be. We have to bring that to the table on a consistent basis. "Getting some of our top players back would help. "In the meantime we soldier on. Yes, there is an element of frustration, that goes hand in hand with the job. "But there is a wider aspect to all this. We are at a wonderful football club with a tremendous history and tradition. We will make sure we continue that."
