Owen Coyle: 'Grant Holt will score many Wigan Athletic goals'

Wigan Athletic manager Owen Coyle is convinced that Grant Holt will ultimately enjoy a fruitful spell with the club - as soon as the striker ends his nine-game barren spell.

The Latics went down to Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 at the DW Stadium this afternoon, with Andrew Crofts's 72nd-minute header sufficient in earning all three points for the Seasiders.

However, the goal was preceded by Holt spurning the opportunity to open the scoring, only for the former Norwich City hitman to fire wide in a one-on-one with Tomasz Kuszczak.

Nevertheless, Coyle is adamant that the 32-year-old - who has not scored since September - will silence his detractors by hitting "many goals" for the club.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, the former Bolton Wanderers and Burnley boss said: "Grant Holt doesn't lack confidence, he's a great lad.

"He's an outstanding player and will score many goals for Wigan, I've got no doubt about that. Of course he was disappointed.

"To be fair [the one-on-one] was of his own making, he's robbed the boy, and nine times out of 10 that would finish in the back of the net for Grant."

Consequently, Wigan remain 11th in the Championship, while Oscar Garcia's Brighton side climb to ninth - two points adrift of a playoff place.