Bolton Wanderers defender Kevin McNaughton has insisted that the players should take the blame for the club's poor start to the season, not manager Dougie Freedman.

The Trotters have dropped into the Championship relegation zone following Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Derby County at the Macron Stadium.

Freedman came under fire from some sections of the Bolton support during the match, but McNaughton has said that it is up to the players to turn the team's fortunes around.

"The manager sends you out with instructions and if you don't follow those instructions it falls on the players' heads," McNaughton told the Daily Mirror.

"There will be players that are hurting, there will be players that are not. Frustrations have heightened, and that is understandable."

Bolton travel to Fulham on Wednesday evening.