PHIL Parkinson admitted his side are not looking capable of surviving in the Championship this season as he reflected on a dismal home defeat against Brentford.
Wanderers, who went a new club record sixth game without a goal, lie bottom of the table without a win in their first nine outings.
Brentford had also started the day without a win to their name but after weathering the early storm – in which Gary Madine hit the woodwork – they cruised to three points with quality goals from Yoann Barbet, Nico Yennaris and Ollie Watkins.
Asked after the final whistle if his side had enough quality to stay up, the Bolton boss answered: “At the moment it would appear not but we have got to keep searching to find a way.
“We know the restrictions over the summer have made it very, very difficult but we have got to find a formula to try and win a game.
“Whatever the shape, whatever the formula, we need someone to give us that moment of quality to give us the lift.”
Parkinson came under fire from sections of the crowd as Wanderers failed to build on an encouraging start.
Adam Armstrong came close to turning home Antonee Robinson’s cross and Madine was also denied by a smart save from David Bentley.
But from the moment substitute Barbet blasted a 25-yard free kick to give the Bees the lead, Parkinson’s side fell to pieces.
The excellent Yennaris added a second just after the hour with another shot from distance, and Watkins rubbed salt into the wounds with six minutes left on the clock – prompting a mass walkout from the Bolton fans.
“It’s not nice, not nice for me, not nice for my family but I can’t blame supporters for any of the reactions today,” Parkinson said.
“We started great and had three or four good chances to get us that lift everyone seems to need at the moment – Gary hit the post, forced a great save and Adam Armstrong was inches away from turning in a great cross.
“Then we concede a wonder strike and it knocked the stuffing out of us – it shouldn’t but you could see it visibly knocked the energy out of us.
“Sometimes it can be perceived as the lads not trying or running around but the manner of the three brilliant goals just knocked the wind right out of us.
“When you have lost 3-0 at home to a team who hasn’t won all season I can’t take any positive from the game. We kept changing it to try and find a way back in but the more attacking players we put out on the pitch the more we lost the structure.”
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