Coyle Delighted With Toronto Win

Posted: Thursday 22nd July 2010

Tags: Carlsberg Cup, Bolton Wanderers, Toronto FC, Owen Coyle

After completing an unbeaten tour of North America, Bolton boss Owen Coyle was happy with his side's victory over Toronto FC.

With the game ending at 1-1 after 90 minutes, Wanderers claimed a 4-3 penalty shootout success over their Canadian opponents at BMO Field, with Jussi Jaaskelainen the hero of the night as Bolton claimed their first silverware since the Asia Trophy in 2005.

Speaking after the game, Coyle admitted he was pleased with the progress made during pre-season.

"It's been a fantastic tour and with each game we have stepped up the quality of our play," Coyle told the club's official website.

"We started with Charlotte and then onto Charleston, who are top of their league, and Toronto tonight. They are are doing terrifically in the MLS and they gave us a good game, which is what we wanted.

"We changed the team about tonight and there is no doubt that the lads will have improved their fitness against a strong side.

"We're delighted to win on penalties because winning is a great habit and it's a good feeling to have.

"Matt scored a great goal and we really should have added to it. Their keeper made a couple of great saves particularly in the second-half and I think they probably had one clear cut chance after half-time.

"I think we were the team that created all the chances and given that we had a team that involved 20 players tonight, it's fantastic.

"There's no doubt that the clinical cutting edge will come as the pre-season games go by but equally we've learnt a lesson tonight. In injury time we probably committed too many players in the box and we should have maybe settled for coming in at 1-0.

"We've still got a few rungs to go up on the ladder before August 14 but I've been delighted with the whole tour and with the performance tonight - it was a win-win situation.

"We will probably start to look at giving players longer playing time in games when we get back (to England) - one team will play one game and another team will play another.

"It's important now that we step up that level of performance and move onto a higher intensity in the games."

The Wanderers squad will fly home on Thursday afternoon ahead of the short trip to Rochdale on Saturday afternoon.