Owen Coyle has described Bolton Wanderers' 2-1 defeat at home to Wigan as a "missed opportunity."
The result leaves Bolton, who face trips to Chelsea and Manchester City in their next two league fixtures, just one point above the bottom-placed Latics.
The Trotters boss was disappointed with his team's poor showing following their recent good run of form.
Coyle told the club's official website: "We know the situation that we are in and today was very much a case of a missed opportunity. We don't want to be giving up chances like that.
"We had entered today's game in some good form at the Reebok. It was a local derby and we knew what was at stake.
"We've done very well at home recently in both league and cup competitions and today was an opportunity to push up another couple of places in the table, but we have let that chance pass us by.
"We shot ourselves in the foot with the two goals that we conceded. The first goal was a free header and for the second it all stemmed from a throw-in 70 yards from goal."
The defeat was Bolton's first in six home games.
Robert Summerscales
