Owen Coyle again turned on his Bolton Wanderers players after their defeat to Newcastle United.

After a poor first half, the game was settled inside three minutes midway through the second as Hatem Ben Arfa opened the scoring in the 69th minute and Demba Ba swiftly added his 14th goal of the season.

Coyle said: "I thought in the first 15 minutes Newcastle started better but then we really grew into the game, finished the first half really strongly and looked as if we could go in front, and then started the second half in the same manner.

"Until the first goal Newcastle had offered no threat in the second half and we looked like we could go on to win the game but then we've given the ball away under no pressure. Soft is probably an understatement.

"Take nothing away from the cutback and the finish, that was exquisite. Newcastle have been doing that all season because they've got terrific offensive players who can hurt you, but prior to that the threat was minimal.

"We've given it away cheaply, but when that happens and you're 1-0 down with 20 minutes left, you're looking for a bit of character, and we had that from a few but not enough.

"One or two were fragile, maybe lacking confidence, but there should be no need for that coming off a win the other night and the performance.

"But then within two minutes they get the second and to say it was an unforced error, it was ridiculous. It was a horrible mistake. (Gabriel) Obertan then raids down the right, Demba Ba gets a touch, Gary (Cahill's) gone to block it and it's spun up into the top corner, which probably sums up our little bit of bad luck."