Coyle pays tribute to match-winner Cahill

Bolton manager Owen Coyle reserved special praise for defender Gary Cahill after his late winner in the 2-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.

Cahill's 78th-minute strike was enough to earn three points for the Trotters and move them off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League to within a point of QPR in 17th place.

The England centre-back has been in talks with Chelsea over a potential move to Stamford Bridge since the transfer window re-opened, and Coyle believes it reflects well on Cahill that he has still been able to produce such good performances in a Bolton shirt.

"It can't have been easy for Gary when it is a club of Chelsea's stature and a fee has been agreed," said Coyle. "I can't say whether this will be Gary's last game for Bolton.

"Gary Cahill has shown tremendous mental character and desire for Bolton"
- Owen Coyle

"To be fair to Chelsea, I think they've respected the fact that we had a huge game and have not had further dialogue, but we expect that they will possibly in the next few days.

"But while that continues, Gary has shown tremendous mental character and desire for Bolton Wanderers."

The Trotters went 1-0 down at Everton thanks to a freak goal from Toffees keeper Tim Howard, who saw his second-half clearance get caught in the wind, bounce once and loop over Bolton stopper Adam Bogdan.

Coyle, who then watched David Ngog level before Cahill's late winner, says he has never seen anything like it in all the time he has been in football.

"It was a freakish goal, certainly one of the most freakish I've ever seen in football," added Coyle.

"Adam Bodgan was magnificent and was in a good position on his six-yard line, but there was nothing we could do about the blustery conditions.

"There might have been a time when a few heads went down after something like that, but I thought we showed character and resilience and responded superbly.

"They scored two magnificent goals and I don't think anyone can say we weren't worthy of the three points."