Kevin Davies has suggested that a run of "cruel" fixtures has contributed to Bolton Wanderers' poor start to the season.

Wanderers slumped to the bottom of the Premier League following yesterday's 5-1 defeat to Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium.

As well as Chelsea, Owen Coyle's men have also faced Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City so far this season and Davies believes that those fixtures have not helped his side's form.

"I know the fans are not too happy and rightly so," Davies told the Bolton Evening News. "We've suffered some heavy defeats here and haven't got any points at home, so we need to do more.

"I don't want to hide behind the fixtures but we have been dealt a cruel set."

Davies is the current club captain of Bolton.