Coyle disappointed with finish

Published May. 22, 2011 9:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Trotters matched their big-spending opponents in an entertaining first half and perhaps should have gone ahead after creating two golden chances for skipper Kevin Davies. But Joleon Lescott's fortuitous header seconds before half time put Bolton behind before City substitute Edin Dzeko's close range finish completed the win. Victory would have given the Trotters, who started the game in tenth position, their first top half finish since 2007. Coyle, whose side ended up 14th in his first full season in charge, said: "I'm disappointed to lose any match - never mind the last game of the season. "The first half in particular we played to a very high standard. "We had numerous chances to get in front - Joe Hart made a magnificent save and a couple of shots whistled by the post - but we always accepted that Manchester City are very dangerous on the counter attack. "Their goal when it came just before half time was very fortuitous. Sometimes they are the little breaks you get." Bolton looked on course for a first top half finish after the magnificent 2-1 home defeat of Arsenal left them sitting pretty in eighth place. Five straight defeats saw them tumble into the bottom half but Coyle believes the future is bright for the Trotters. He said: "Over the last couple of weeks we've known the players were running on empty. "We've had three or four players having to play through injuries because we've been decimated in terms of numbers. "So we know where we've have to improve. "But the great thing for the football club is there's that room for improvement since I came here. We've made real progress. "We've got more points than we did last year despite the last few results. "We know we can take the club on."