“You don’t know what you’re doing,” the Newcastle United supporters chanted as Obafemi Martins made way for Mark Viduka in the 79th minute at the Reebok Stadium yesterday, although such claims could be just as easily applied to the players as the decisions of a makeshift managerial set-up.

The rudderless ship that is Newcastle may run aground, their players looking as ill-equipped for a relegation battle as Chris Hughton, the stand-in manager in the absence of Joe Kinnear, and at this rate the club must just be thankful that Hull City are haemorrhaging points at a more alarming speed.

This was a huge game for Newcastle, but they fell short, leaving them two points above the relegation zone, and the outlook could be far bleaker come April 5. Three of Newcastle’s next four games are against teams in the top five of the Barclays Premier League. Manchester United, the runaway leaders, are the visiting side on Wednesday, with Arsenal and Chelsea also to play at St James’ Park, all of which suggests Newcastle’s trip to face Hull at the KC Stadium on Saturday week will be of critical importance to the club’s fate.

It was a dreadful weekend of results for Newcastle and six points from a possible 27 says everything. The next month could be potentially catastrophic. “I don’t see it like that,” Hughton said. “From now until the end of the season there will be weekends that go for you and those that don’t. We have lost, which is a bitter blow for us, but we have always known we are in a relegation scrap.”

Newcastle were not terrible against Bolton by any means, but luck appears to have deserted them — a necessary ingredient at the best of times, especially in a dogfight — while their finishing was woeful. Martins had all the time in the world in which to choose his spot in the 42nd minute but headed Jonás Gutiérrez’s cross horribly wide, Shola Ameobi had an effort tipped aside

in the second half and Fabricio Coloccini was desperately unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty in the 77th minute when Jlloyd Samuel clearly handled his shot, but, for the most part, Newcastle lacked composure and conviction.

Bolton, on the other hand, took their chance when it arrived, victory moving Gary Megson’s team up to tenth in the table, above moneybags Manchester City. Ricardo Gardner had been sent on at half-time for Fabrice Muamba in the hope of offering penetration going forward, and his impact was immediate. Kevin Davies and the outstanding Matt Taylor interchanged well down the right, with Taylor crossing for Gardner to scoop the ball neatly over Steve Harper.

One goal always looked like being enough, despite a late rally from the visiting team during which Peter Lovenkrands had a goalbound overhead kick cleared by Andy O’Brien.

Megson, who signed a one-year rolling contract before kick-off, was almost as buoyed by the clean sheet — his team’s first since November 8 in the league — as the result. Newcastle, though, have much to ponder.

Bolton (4-4-2): J Jaaskelainen 7 - G Steinsson 6, G Cahill 7, A O’Brien 7, J Samuel 6 - M Davies 6, F Muamba 6, G McCann 6, M Taylor 8 - J Elmander 6, K Davies 7. Substitutes: R Gardner 7 (for Muamba, 46min), E Smolarek (for Elmander, 79). Not used: A Al Habsi, D Shittu, S Puygrenier, A Makukula, C Basham. Next: Stoke City (a).

Newcastle (4-4-2): S Harper 6 - S Taylor 6, F Coloccini 6, S Bassong 5, J Enrique 5 - P Lovenkrands 6, N Butt 6, R Taylor 5, J Gutiérrez 6 - O Martins 5, F Ameobi 5. Substitutes: Gérémi 5 (for Butt, 67min), M Viduka (for Martins, 79). Not used: F Forster, C Caçapa, A Smith, D Edgar, A Carroll. Next: Man Utd (h).

Referee: A Wiley Attendance: 20,763.