The 2011-12 campaign was an emotional rollercoaster at the Reebok Stadium for 11-season Premier League veterans Bolton Wanderers.
After a string of injuries and a late-season collapse in 2010-11, The Trotters were aiming to bounce back after a long summer and several new additions.
Sports Mole now takes a look back at what was a difficult season for the Lancashire club.
August
After finishing the previous season with five straight defeats, the Wanderers opened the new campaign with a four-goal win at Premier League newcomers Queens Park Rangers. The club later claimed a narrow win over League Two side Macclesfield Town in the Carling Cup, but defeats to Roberto Mancini's Citizens and a new-look Liverpool left the Trotters teetering.
September
Defending champions Manchester United were next to make the trip to the Reebok Stadium, where the Red Devils ran out five-goal winners. Bolton suffered a fourth consecutive league defeat at home to Norwich, before losing another on the road at Arsenal to leave them at the bottom of the league table. Meanwhile, a two-goal win at Aston Villa in the Carling Cup offered some respite.
October
The Trotters conceded another five goals at home to Chelsea to begin October, but were able to beat relegation rivals Wigan 3-1 at the DW Stadium. Elimination from the Carling Cup at Arsenal followed, before back-to-back defeats at Swansea and to Sunderland left them in the relegation places.
November
Bolton bounced back in November with a five-goal win over Stoke to move two places clear of the bottom of the table, despite disappointing defeats at the Hawthorns and at home to Everton.
December
Defeats at White Hart Lane, Craven Cottage and at home to Aston Villa extended the club's losing streak to five games and moved them back to the foot of the table. The Trotters went on to enter 2012 in last place, despite a win at Ewood Park and a 1-1 tie with Wolves on New Year's Eve.
January
The club lost star centre-back Gary Cahill to Chelsea in January, but not before the England international could make the difference in a 2-1 triumph at Goodison Park to start 2012. They conceded three goals at Old Trafford, but bounced back to beat Kenny Dalglish's Reds 3-1 and escape the bottom three.
February
On the back of FA Cup wins over Macclesfield and Swansea, Bolton were able to hold Arsenal to a goalless draw. However, three league defeats in a row at Norwich, at Chelsea and at home to Wigan would push them back into the relegation places. Meanwhile, The Trotters continued their strong FA Cup run with a 2-0 win at Millwall.
March
A 2-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium extended the club's winless streak to five games, before three consecutive wins over relegation rivals Blackburn, QPR and Wolves lifted Bolton out of relegation places once again. However, the club suffered a blow in the FA Cup, when midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch at White Hart Lane. The match was abandoned and rearranged, and Bolton went on to lose 3-1.
April
Back-to-back defeats to Fulham and Newcastle to start April left Bolton a point outside of the relegation places. However, despite taking five points from their next three games against Sunderland, Swansea and Aston Villa, The Trotters found themselves back in the relegation places entering the final month of the season.
April
Tottenham beat Bolton 4-1 in a pivotal showdown at both ends of the table, leaving them in the relegation places on goal difference alone. In the penultimate game of the season, the club were able to take a two-goal lead against West Brom, but were pegged back in the late stages. Meanwhile, relegation rivals QPR grabbed a late winner at Stoke, which moved them two points clear of The Trotters with one game to go.
Relegation was confirmed on the final day of the season, despite a 2-2 draw away at Stoke, ending the club's 11-season stay in the top flight.
