Hot reception: Owen Coyle was jeered by the Burnley
fans at Turf Moor
Owen Coyle endured a
torrid time on and off the pitch as Burnley fans vented their fury
at him just as forcibly as he feared they might on his return to
Turf Moor on Tuesday night.
All the match programme pleas
for Coyle's sterling deeds as Turf Moor boss to be remembered
predictably fell on deaf ears as he was barracked mercilessly for
defecting to Burnley's vanquished Carling Cup opponents.
If the noise from the
sidelines was deafening, viewing events on the pitch was hardly any
more palatable for Coyle, as Bolton were run ragged at times and
crashed out to a close-range 45th-minute Wade Elliott
goal.
Mark Clattenburg bizarrely
pointed to the spot, despite keeper Adam Bogdan being the player
trying to claw the ball back, but any confusion was swept away as
the referee's assistant signalled the ball had crossed the
line.
Bolton could have few grumbles,
after seeing an inspired Chris Eagles and Jay Rodriguez hit the
frame of the goal, and Coyle, gallingly, was forced to see out the
final few minutes to strains of 'Judas, Judas, what's the
score?'
High flyer: Wade Elliott scores the winner
Coyle had one cause for
complaint, claiming Chris Iwelumo handled to set up Elliott's
winner.
'It was like a volleyball punch,
and that's why I approached the referee at half-time,' he said. 'It
was disappointing to lose in that manner, but it was a terrific
tie. You could say my return gave it some added spice, but after
the initial fuss, I can honestly say all my focus was on the game
and I was aware of nothing other than a general background
noise.
'Anyway, in the area I grew up
in (the Gorbals in Glasgow), you have to fight tooth and nail for
everything you get and not let a few names bother you. I know
exactly what I did for this club, and nothing can take away the
special times.
'For two years, I was a hero.
Now I seem to be the villain, but I'll never say anything negative
about Burnley. They are passionate fans, and I always thrived on
that, so I can't moan when it comes back to bite you on the
behind.'
A mere dozen or so fans were on
hand to jeer Coyle when he climbed off the Bolton team bus, but the
reception was altogether more hostile when he followed the teams
onto the pitch shortly before kick-off.
Boos rang round the ground every
step of the way from tunnel to technical area. Eight stewards
formed a protective ring round him, but the Bolton manager remained
undaunted as he passed up the chance to disappear inside the
dug-out and, instead, stood defiantly in front of it.