Owen Coyle says Bolton missed out on another opportunity to pick up valuable points as they slumped to a miserable defeat to Wigan.
Following fine performances against Liverpool and Arsenal which saw the Trotters pick up four crucial points, there was real optimism around the Reebok that Coyle's men had turned the corner.
Any such hope has been blown away in the last two games though as defeats to Norwich and Wigan have left them rooted in the bottom three and staring relegation in the face.
It was the manner of the defeat which angered Bolton fans the most as they witnessed their side completely outplayed by a Wigan side who are propping up the table and had only won two games on their travels his season.
Coyle is well aware that it was a crucial game which they could not afford to lose and was disappointed that his players failed to capitalise on a good chance to climb out of the bottom three.
"It's a game we wanted to win to move us up the league and we've let the opportunity pass us by. In our position you can't let chances slip away when there are achievable points," Coyle said after the game.
"Our first-half performance was not good enough but after the second-half performance I have no doubt we should have taken a minimum of a point.
"Wigan dominated possession in the first half but to concede a goal two minutes from half-time was galling, especially when Gary Caldwell was allowed a free header.
"But when we got the goal we were in the ascendency and we had a couple of great chances. Those are the kinds of margins in this league."
Coyle also came under fire for adopting a 4-4-2 formation for the game when 4-5-1 had served them so well in the games against Liverpool and Arsenal.