The Wanderers supporters saw their side defeated by relegation rivals Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium on Sunday.

Bolton played against 10 men for 86 minutes after midfielder Jason Koumas was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Gary Cahill.

Yet despite the fact nine of the players on view had the midweek off, missing Thursday's UEFA Cup defeat at Sporting Lisbon, they failed to raise their game for such a crucial encounter.

The result means Bolton are firmly entrenched in the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League, and it does not get any easier as they face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

looks bleak

Nolan has called on the supporters continue to get behind the players because he knows they will struggle to stay up without their backing.

"We are hurting as much as the fans are," said Nolan. "I just want to plead with them, as captain and one of the main members of the team, to please just stay with us because we do need them in what is our hour of need.

"We've nine games to go, and although I believe we will get out of it and stay up, I know that at the moment it looks bleak.

"I certainly feel we've the team, the ammunition, the individuals and that we can put in the effort to make sure we're in the Premier League next season."