KEVIN Davies has been shocked by Wanderers’ failings in front of goal.

Zat Knight’s strike against Wolves last week was Bolton’s first in more than nine hours of Premier League football.

The solitary goal helped lift Wanderers out of the bottom three ahead of this afternoon’s trip to fellow strugglers West Ham United.

Nevertheless, while Owen Coyle has tightened things up at the back, goals continue to be a problem with the Whites hitting the back of the net just seven times in 12 games since he took charge at the Reebok.

And it is a dilemma that dates back to Gary Megson’s reign. Defender Gary Cahill is the club’s top scorer with seven goals — despite missing the last month through injury.

Strikers Ivan Klasnic (six), Davies (five) and Johan Elmander (four) have struck just 15 times between them this season.

And Davies, who has not scored in the league since December 29, has urged Wanderers to start taking their chances.

“I really didn’t know it was so bad,” said the 32-year-old captain.

“We are creating chances and they have been good ones in pretty much every game we have played.

“Whichever individual it falls to, we have to show a bit more quality in front of goal. We also need a bit of luck.

“I don’t want to sound like I am making excuses. We are creating chances, we just need to start being a bit more ruthless and sticking them away.”

Coyle conceded: “We have to finish those chances it’s as simple as that. We can’t keep passing them up, particularly when it’s at 0-0 or 1-0 down.

“You need to have the courage of your convictions and hit the back of the net. We’ve not done it well enough for a number of games.

“When the chances come — and we’re making them — then we’ve got to make sure we hit the back of the net.”