Early Bolton Goals Sink Boro

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Middlesbrough's hopes of extending their good run were shattered by an in-form Bolton Wanderers side that never looked back after scoring twice in the opening ten minutes.

Boro began the match full of expectations after an unbeaten five-match run. A win appeared to be on the cards as Bolton have been struggling to score goals in recent games. The Lancashire side, however, shook the home team with an early two-minute, two-goal salvo.

JOHAN ELMANDER

Middlesbrough skipper Emanuel Pogatetz was booked in the seventh minute for a foul. It proved an expensive challenge because Bolton went ahead with the resultant free-kick.

Matt Taylor crossed from the right to the far post where Gretar Steinsson connected with a header and the ball ended up in the back of the net as Kevin Davies challenged for it.

Before Boro had recovered Taylor had increased the lead from Steinsson's pass although Gareth Southgate would have been annoyed about the lack of a challenge on the scorer.

David Wheater headed wide for Middlesbrough as the home side piled on the pressure in a bid to get back into the match.

However, Bolton's well-drilled defence handled everything that was thrown at them and there was no chance of a breakthrough before the interval. Middlesbrough fans became frustrated and there was some booing at the half-time whistle.

Boro began the second half with an all-out assault against the packed defence. Bolton refused to panic though and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was rarely called into action.

The visitors in fact had a great chance to increase the lead but Fabrice Muamba shot wide with an opening created by Johan Elmander.

Middlesbrough sent on substitute Adam Johnson at the expense of former Arsenal forward Jeremie Aliadiere and then withdrew ineffective Brazilian striker Afonso Alves and sent on Marvin Emnes in a bid to save the game.

Skipper Pogatetz lifted the crowd when he crashed the ball into the net following an overhead Wheater kick.

Bolton however crushed any hopes of a point-saving rally when Elmander almost immediately restored their lead.

It was the first goal by the record £10million signing since the opening game of the season against Stoke City.

Bolton manager Gary Megson would have been happy with the display of his team but it is back to the drawing board for Southgate.

The Boro boss, no doubt, will be hoping for a vastly improved display in the north-east derby against Newcastle United next Saturday.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate was dismayed by his side's poor performance, saying: "We didn't deserve anything from the game and we made the wrong decisions too many times.

"When you have a start like that you give yourselves a mountain to climb.

"We didn't make the game simple enough and sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say they deserved it.

"It was also disappointing because we spoke about when we get the momentum there will be a swing in the game.

"But we didn't have that long enough to make it count and to concede just after we'd scored killed the game."

Delighted Bolton boss Gary Megson said: "I must admit in all my time as a player and a manager I've never been more pleased for someone (Johan Elmander) to score.

"It's taken a huge amount of pressure off him which I felt was a bit unfair. He did the same today as he's done in nearly every game for us.

"His quality is exceptional and his work-rate is exceptional. Now people will start looking at him in a different way because of the goal he's scored.

"We got a terrific start but we didn't press it home and we were looking to hang onto it instead of pushing forward. We're a bit of an enigma at the moment.

"We spoke at half-time about having that little bit of belief and that will come from myself and the staff and everyone connected with the club. They need a bit of help to believe in themselves.

"Our first goal was always going to make it difficult but we should have made it more difficult for Middlesbrough today. But hopefully we can keep improving in the short term to get where we want to be in the long term."

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