Source: Daily_Mail
Bolton boss Owen Coyle on Blackburn derby clash
Bolton manager Owen Coyle insists mental fatigue cannot be allowed to derail their season in the final few weeks of the campaign.[LNB]Having had their FA Cup dreams shattered with the 5-0 semi-final defeat by Stoke, the Trotters roused themselves up to beat Arsenal last weekend but then lost disappointingly at Fulham in midweek epitomising their temperamental form of late.[LNB] Hard times: Coyle is looking for a strong finish to the season from his squad[LNB]That defeat ended any outside chance Wanderers had of sneaking into European qualification, and Coyle is keen not to allow months of hard work go to waste in the final few matches.[LNB]'There is no doubt, given how hard the players have worked since pre-season, that physical and mental fatigue play a part.[LNB]'It absolutely comes in but you have to be strong and give everything you can and recognise there are four games to go, and we have to make sure whoever is asked to play gives everything they can[LNB]'The margins are so fine and when you have that lack of concentration for any given moment you can be punished - it happened the other night at Fulham - so we have to make sure we address that.[LNB]'We have to make sure the group we have fit and available give everything they can to win the next game.[LNB]'We don't want the season to peter away in the last few weeks after giving everything we have this season.[LNB]'We are sitting eighth in the league, having had a great season, and we want to finish it strongly.'[LNB] Back to winning ways: Bolton will be hoping to avoid back-to-back league defeats after a 3-0 loss at Fulham[LNB]Bolton travel to near-neighbours Blackburn tomorrow - a ground where they have not won since October 2006.[LNB]Wanderers' away record this season is woeful, having won only twice on the road in the league and not since November.[LNB]But Coyle dismissed those statistics.[LNB]'It is not rocket science that everyone wants to play at home in front of their home fans at a capacity stadium.[LNB]'If you look at the league there is not one team with a glittering away record - Manchester United do not have a fantastic away record.[LNB]'Arsenal had the best away record in the league and look what happened to them last Sunday," he added.[LNB]'If we had an away record to match our home record we would be winning the Premier League - and this is Bolton we are talking about.[LNB]'It is fine to band about statistics but when you look deeper, whether home or away, Bolton go to win every game and have produced big performances all season long and that is why we sit eighth.'[LNB] Facing the drop: Kean is facing a relegation scrap at Ewood Park[LNB]While Bolton are in the comfort zone, Blackburn are fighting for their Premier League survival just a point above the bottom three.[LNB]Manager Steve Kean has had a baptism of fire since replacing Sam Allardyce in December, a situation which mirrored that of Coyle's when he took over at the Reebok in January 2010 with the side threatened by relegation.[LNB]He produced a quick turnaround in results which led the club to safety with some ease - from where they have progressed - and he believes his Rovers counterpart can do the same.[LNB]'What I think Steve has to do, not that he will be interested in my opinion, is they have to get themselves safe to the summer and then he can put his own stamp on it.[LNB]'It is very similar to us last season; when we came in halfway through and first and foremost we had to ensure Bolton retained their Premier League status and we did that in some comfort.[LNB]'It takes time for things to come into place.'[LNB]On-loan Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge, scorer of seven goals in nine matches, is a doubt for tomorrow with an ankle injury which forced him to miss the midweek defeat at Fulham whilst full-back Gretar Steinsson's knee problem sustained at Craven Cottage rules him out of the clash[LNB] BLACKBURN v Bolton: Nzonzi returns but Hoilett still doubtfulBlackburn v BOLTON: Sturridge set to miss out on Ewood Park clashAll the latest Bolton news, features and opinionAll the latest Blackburn news, features and opinion Explore more:People: Sam Allardyce, Owen Coyle, Daniel Sturridge
