Bolton boss Owen Coyle has said that Premier League managers must accept the harsh nature of the top flight following Steve Bruce's sacking.

The Scot – who is facing increasing pressure as the Trotters continue to struggle to move up the table – believes that Bruce could have turned Sunderland's season around if he had been given more time, but knows that time isn't something that managers are often afforded.

"I think we all know the nature of football," he said. "We're in the best league in the world, within that comes global coverage and intense scrutiny and it's something that, as managers, we all accept.

"Football, as I say, can change very quickly. Who's to say that if Steve [Bruce] had won this weekend, if he'd been afforded that time and won his game, Sunderland couldn't have easily started moving up the league?"

Bolton travel to White Hart Lane to face third-placed Tottenham this weekend.