Bolton manager Owen Coyle has challenged his side to deliver consistently after finally hitting the standards he demands. The stressed Wanderers at last found their touch after a miserable start to the season as they thrash Stoke 5-0 in the Barclays Premier League at the Reebok Stadium.
The score line mirror the 5-0 hammering Bolton received at the hands of the Potters in last season's FA Cup semi-finals, when arguably their decline began. It was only Bolton's third win of the season and their first at home and, although they are still a lowly 18th, has the possible to kick start their campaign.
Coyle said:The strength was there and despite of how the result went I wanted to make sure we had a appearance of the way I like.They did that and we have got to make sure we do that consistently.
The quality of goals was there for everybody to see.It was a valuable three points. It only moves us up one place but it catapults us up among seven or eight teams. It puts us on an upwards spiral.We had to win. Stoke are a fantastic side and Tony Pulis is a top manager.
They will finish top 10, completely. They have real strength in depth.But I think we were clinical with everything that came our way.That has happened to us before, so it is nice to come out on the right side of it.
Bolton took control in the second minute when Asmir Begovic was deemed to have collected a back pass from Glenn Whelan. The goalkeeper then allowed Ivan Klasnic to take a free-kick from which remembers Bolton Captain Kevin Davies scored.
The outstanding Chris Eagles made it 2-0 with a superb finish from a tight angle and Klasnic swept in a third after a break. Eagles and Klasnic went on to double their tallies and Bolton was unsuccessful with a couple of other chances.