Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren branded his team's performance "unacceptable" after a fifth match without a win.
Goals from Kevin Davies and substitute Bruno N'Gotty gave Bolton a 2-0 victory at the Reebok Stadium.
"It was an unacceptable performance. We should perform better than that," McClaren said.
"I am very disappointed for all the supporters, who travelled to watch us play. I feel their disappointment, I feel their hurt, because we feel it too.
"A thousand things went wrong and I think it was the basics. We didn't defend well, we didn't win enough challenges in midfield and create enough and didn't look like scoring.
"You get them together and you get a poor performance."
However, McClaren is confident they have enough quality in the side to move up the table.
"We've had a bad start but I know there is enough talent in the squad to bounce back from that," he said.
"We have learned a lot. Now we have to lick our wounds and take the criticism and on Monday make sure we work twice as hard to make sure this performance is not repeated.
"Our goal at the moment is to win our first Premier League game, so there is always pressure to get that.
"What I am looking for now is a show of character. We all have to stick together because it is only us that can sort it out."
McClaren tried to play down an incident involving Juninho when he was substituted.
The Brazilian playmaker walked slowly off the pitch and then straight down the tunnel.
"It was purely a tactical decision," said the Middlesbrough boss.
"I didn't see the reaction but I would be very disappointed if a player wasn't disappointed at being substituted."
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Our goal at the moment is to win our first Premier League game
