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Keith Hill says Wanderers “let Portsmouth off the hook” after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Fratton Park.
The home side was booed off the pitch in the first half and then had Brett Pittman miss a penalty after the break.
But Bolton failed to capitalise on their good fortune and Pittman headed the winner on 66 minutes to ease the pressure on manager Kenny Jackett.
Will Buckley had two good opportunities in the first 45 minutes but Hill admits a failure to create a lead cost his team in the end.
“First half we played well but second half we made too many mistakes, defensively, not keeping the ball as well as I’d expect them to,” he said after the game.
“In the first half we have to be more ruthless. The missing ingredient from the way we played was putting the ball in the back of the net. We had some good phases of play, good opportunities where players have got to show they can make up that extra five yards, make better decisions.
“I think we are looking better as a team but this is a results-driven business.
“I believe we let Portsmouth off the hook today. Second half I can’t argue they were the better side but over the course of 90 minutes I felt like we deserved something out of the game.”
Daryl Murphy made his first start for the club – but Hill was disappointed that the 36-year-old had to play the whole game.
“It’s a great positive and it’s also unfortunate because I wanted him to play 55-60 minutes,” he said.
“Again, I am in a position where I am trying to ignore Daryl Murphy is on the pitch because I don’t have options on the bench, not like Portsmouth have got, it’s as simple as that.
“It’s a shame because the lads are giving me everything they possibly can.
“I had one real option, which was brilliant, Dennis Politic. But the other lads have got to catch up quickly to make sure I have got better options.
“Somebody needs to stand in front of me and tell me on the training ground they can make a difference.
“We are making big strides but it’s hard to accept when you are losing a football match 1-0 to Portsmouth away. I don’t accept losing, I hate it, but I look at their squad and we want to build in the same sort of quality and stature.
“I am relatively pleased with the performance and progress but I want results. Supporters want results.
“There are a lot of experts without expertise in football these days and they want quick change to make progress. But to make progress you need stability.
“We just want to win football matches. Those supporters were magnificent, they have applauded us off the pitch for our efforts, everything we tried to do to send them home happy with three points, but we need more.”
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The home side was booed off the pitch in the first half and then had Brett Pittman miss a penalty after the break.
But Bolton failed to capitalise on their good fortune and Pittman headed the winner on 66 minutes to ease the pressure on manager Kenny Jackett.
Will Buckley had two good opportunities in the first 45 minutes but Hill admits a failure to create a lead cost his team in the end.
“First half we played well but second half we made too many mistakes, defensively, not keeping the ball as well as I’d expect them to,” he said after the game.
“In the first half we have to be more ruthless. The missing ingredient from the way we played was putting the ball in the back of the net. We had some good phases of play, good opportunities where players have got to show they can make up that extra five yards, make better decisions.
“I think we are looking better as a team but this is a results-driven business.
“I believe we let Portsmouth off the hook today. Second half I can’t argue they were the better side but over the course of 90 minutes I felt like we deserved something out of the game.”
Daryl Murphy made his first start for the club – but Hill was disappointed that the 36-year-old had to play the whole game.
“It’s a great positive and it’s also unfortunate because I wanted him to play 55-60 minutes,” he said.
“Again, I am in a position where I am trying to ignore Daryl Murphy is on the pitch because I don’t have options on the bench, not like Portsmouth have got, it’s as simple as that.
“It’s a shame because the lads are giving me everything they possibly can.
“I had one real option, which was brilliant, Dennis Politic. But the other lads have got to catch up quickly to make sure I have got better options.
“Somebody needs to stand in front of me and tell me on the training ground they can make a difference.
“We are making big strides but it’s hard to accept when you are losing a football match 1-0 to Portsmouth away. I don’t accept losing, I hate it, but I look at their squad and we want to build in the same sort of quality and stature.
“I am relatively pleased with the performance and progress but I want results. Supporters want results.
“There are a lot of experts without expertise in football these days and they want quick change to make progress. But to make progress you need stability.
“We just want to win football matches. Those supporters were magnificent, they have applauded us off the pitch for our efforts, everything we tried to do to send them home happy with three points, but we need more.”
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