OWEN Coyle hasn’t grown accustomed to criticism during a managerial career travelling largely in a positive direction, but he admits this last few weeks have been a real eye-opener.

Given the daunting early season schedule, it was always likely that the manager and his team would face an examination of character. And judging by the widespread disappointment over performances against Liverpool, Manchester United and Norwich City, the poor start has also tested goodwill on the terraces.

But Coyle remains pragmatic about the brickbats aimed his way at the start of this week as the club recorded its worst-ever run of home defeats, putting them second-bottom of the Premier League as they prepare to head to Arsenal this weekend.

From the moans of dissatisfaction in the stands to the doom-and-gloom match reports in the press, there was little to cheer about until the well-timed midweek victory over Aston Villa in the Carling Cup.

But Coyle isn’t complaining and acknowledges that the only way he can put a smile back on people’s faces at the Reebok is by changing results.

“Everyone has an opinion and I don't mind that,” he said. “If someone has an opinion you don't enjoy, or criticism, then you have to accept it.

“I've always been fortunate in my five or six years in management for it to always be upward, complementary, and for some lovely things to be said about me. But if it goes the other way then you have to give balance to it and say to yourself 'it was okay when they were saying nice things about you.'

“You just have to go away, work hard and get results because opinions change quickly in football.

“People have jobs to do and as long as they are not being vindictive then I don't have a problem.”

Coyle called his team in for extra training in the aftermath of the Norwich defeat, and reckons hard work is the only way his side can fight their way out of the current slump.

“Regardless of who it is, no-one in football enjoys losing games or under-performing for whatever reason,” he said.

“When you lose a game, you have to go away and look extensively at everything.

“I'm totally understanding of where we are as a football club and I certainly don't want to be second bottom in the league.

“I think because of the tough start we had, everyone would have perceived that Norwich would have been a great three points. If we had got them, we would be quite content with six points from the first five games.

“But we didn't. And how do you react to that? You get back and work hard.”

In the opposite dugout, Arsene Wenger’s position at Arsenal has also come under some scrutiny after the Gunners’ worst start to a season for 58 years.

The Londoners are just one point better off than Wanderers after the first five games and go into Saturday’s game still smarting from a 4-3 defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

While Coyle can accept the criticism aimed his way of late, he is at a loss to explain why Wenger has come under such heavy fire.

“We understand how football works but for me, it's absolutely ridiculous,” he said. “He's one of the best managers football has ever been lucky enough to have.

“But we know the nature of the game and Arsene will as well. But if he left Arsenal then I'd suggest there would be nobody else out there better to do the job.

“He's an outstanding manager and he's shown that year after year with his players and in the way they play. I know the big gripe is that they haven't won a trophy for a while and should have done last year.

“But there's no doubt for me that he's still one of the very top managers.”