The Latics were in control of the game for virtually the full ninety minutes and Mark Davies' cracking equaliser aside, the result was in little doubt.
"It's a game we wanted to win to move us up the league and we've let the opportunity pass us by. In our position you can't let chances slip away when there are achievable points," Coyle said after the game.
"Our first-half performance was not good enough but after the second-half performance I have no doubt we should have taken a minimum of a point.
"Wigan dominated possession in the first half but to concede a goal two minutes from half-time was galling, especially when Gary Caldwell was allowed a free header.
"But when we got the goal we were in the ascendency and we had a couple of great chances. Those are the kinds of margins in this league."
Bolton now face tought away trips to Manchester City and Chelsea after their game with Millwall in the FA Cup.
