Jay Spearing issues apology to Bolton Wanderers fans

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Jay Spearing has apologised to the club's supporters for the 7-1 defeat away to Reading on Saturday.

Adam Le Fondre hit a first-half hat-trick for the Royals before Pavel Pogrebnyak, Kaspars Gorkss, Hope Akpan and Nick Blackman added further contributions to the rout of the Trotters.

The defeat leaves Dougie Freedman's men 18th in the Championship table, four points clear of the relegation zone, and Spearing admits that the team's collective mental strength must improve if they are to avoid dropping into League One.

"What could have gone wrong did go wrong. We, as players, have to stand up and take responsibility because we haven't been good enough," Spearing told Bolton's official website.

"I'd like to apologise to the fans. Not one of us were anywhere near our best.

"As a group of players, our mental strength has to improve. We're in it all together and we've got to hang in there."

Bolton welcome Burnley to the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.