BLACKBURN were not three goals better than Bolton at Ewood Park on Sunday, but that does not alter the fact that it was another disappointing performance and another setback.

I know Owen Coyle has had a go publicly at his players for the manner of the defeat — and rightly so because, with the fans behind them all the way, the players let themselves down.

But what he said to the media was nothing compared to what he will have said in the dressing room.

He might speak on the record in general terms but his specific criticisms will stay in-house. That’s his way.

Of course, it will have been sorted once the squad got back together again yesterday and started preparing for the next game. Owen’s not the type to dwell on things any longer than is necessary. In fact, I can’t think of anyone better than him to lift players when they need lifting.

That’s his strength. We saw it when he was a player and that’s one of the things he’s taken into management with him: he’s bright and he’s bubbly and he will get that through to the players.

But the bottom line is that the players have got to get themselves out of the position they are in. It’s their responsibility — and if it means playing ugly, winning football, then that’s what they must do.

I know that’s not necessarily Owen’s style because he always wants his teams to play good football, but in the position Bolton are in at the moment, it’s pointless trying to play pretty, pretty football — and getting beat.

They need results and, if that means grinding out performances and keeping clean sheets, that’s the way it has to be.

Owen knew that when he came into the job. He also knew he had a tough start with games against Arsenal and Liverpool, but the recent games were all ones he would have targeted as being winnable — games that the players must believe they can win.

That’s the frame of mind they must be in when they go up against Wolves at the Reebok on Saturday.

I’d like to see them concentrate on the basics, scrap for everything, make sure they are solid and then impose themselves on a team they know they are more than capable of beating.

Before then there’s an FA Cup replay to be won at Spurs tomorrow night.

I’m not sure what team Owen will go with but I can say for sure that he will want to win the game.

Obviously the Premier League is the bread and butter and pulling away from the bottom three is the priority, but when you get to this stage of the cup, you know Wembley is just around the corner — and that will keep the season buzzing.