Danny Welbeck scored the only goal of the game to consign Wanderers to defeat, but Coyle refused to be downbeat.
He said: "Even at 1-0, I still always believed we would get back into the game. We came out in the second half and in the last 25, 30 minutes, it was like the Alamo. For a team with such a home record, they were really on the back foot and we had numerous chances to get the equaliser, but we never quite got it.
"Am I disappointed? Only by the result, not the performance because we put a team which is unbeaten at home to the sword in the latter stages."
Coyle and Bruce exchanged words shortly after the break after Lee Cattermole, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Stuart Holden, caught Johan Elmander late, but was spared a third red card of the season.
The Bolton boss said: "Did I feel he was lucky? There's no doubt about it. I know referees have a difficult job, but it was a clear foul."
Source: PA
Source: PA