WANDERERS set an unwanted record as they slipped into the bottom three of the Championship with a defeat against Swansea City.

Barry McKay’s fine first-half strike condemned Phil Parkinson’s side to their fourth successive home defeat without scoring – the first such run in the club’s 144-year history.

The returning Sammy Ameobi went close with another blockbusting shot before the break, tipped on to the bar by Swans keeper Erwin Mulder.

But the winger missed a simple chance to level the scores in the second half when Andy Taylor’s cross found him on the edge of the six yard box.

Wanderers failed to muster much of a fight after that – although Parkinson felt a late penalty for a foul on Erhun Oztumer was ignored by referee Graham Scott.

The Bolton boss also felt aggrieved that a foul on Ameobi in the build-up to McKay’s goal was not spotted, leaving him with a familiar tale to tell at the final whistle.

“I really don’t know what to say – it’s the same script I’ve said for quite a few weeks.

“Their lad smashed one in the top corner after 15 minutes and Sammy got blocked on the edge of the box from a set play routine. The resulting scramble goes to their lad and it’s an unbelievable strike.

“The general play has been good but when we have good play, we have to score.

“We’ve had several opportunities, Sammy had one several yards out, we have ones where shots have gone over the bar, haven’t hit the target, gone straight at the keeper.

“I can’t fault the lads’ effort – they gave everything. I can’t fault the staff’s effort – everyone worked tirelessly this week in preparation for the game. But we’re in a run where nothing is going for us at all.

“I don’t think we’re a team who’s waiting for it to happen, we’re trying to make it happen. We have played as positively as we could. But you need to score when you have periods of pressure and that’s been the same old story for quite a while.”