Wanderers stay up at the expense of Coyle's former club Burnley who had to beat Liverpool to stand any hope of avoiding the drop.
Instead the Clarets sank to a depressing 4-0 defeat at Turf Moor to condemn them to an immediate return to the Coca-Cola Championship after just a season in the top flight.
Coyle may now feel even more vindicated at jumping ship at Turf Moor by events of the last four months.
However, he retains a soft spot for the Clarets back in the Championship after just one season.
The Trotters can now relax in their final two fixtures, away at Champions League chasing Spurs and at home to Birmingham.
However, if they're not to flirt with relegation again next season, Coyle must eradicate performances like this one against the FA Cup finalists.
They could have avoided dragging out the uncertainty for another 24 hours by beating already doomed Pompey.
Instead, they squandered a 2-0 interval lead that baffled skipper Kevin Davies.
"We're very disappointed but we can't go out and perform like we did in the second half in this league against anyone," said Davies.
Davies view
"We all said the right things at half-time but we never got out of the traps after the break.
"I had a chance at the end but Portsmouth were more likely to win the game in the second half."
Davies tapped in his eighth goal of the season after Ivan Klasnic headed Bolton in front with his first goal of 2010.
But Arune Dindane's double secured a well-deserved point for Avram Grant's team.
"I'm trying to find the answers myself why we didn't perform after half-time," added Davies.
"But 2-0 can be a funny scoreline.You are comfortable but a goal brings them back into it.
"I felt you could see the goals coming from Portsmouth and sometimes you just feel powerless as a side to stop it.
"We looked a bit edgy but we should have been coming out looking to win 4 or 5 -0."
Coyle said: "I have stressed to the players, that's not what I want at this club.
"I do not want players who are just happy to be in the league.
"I want the players who have the energy and desire to push us up the league.
"That is what I am striving to do. Everyone has left disappointed because we had the game won."
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen 7, Steinsson 7, Knight 6, Cahill 6, Robinson 7, Weiss 6 (Lee 69), Muamba 6, Taylor 6, Wilshere 7 (M Davies 81), K Davies 6, Klasnic 6 (Elmander 75).
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