No messing around with the teamsheet this week. Good to see.
I’ll go for Bolton 0-2 Boro
Early lead for Boro: Aidan Morris in the 13th minute, assisted by ACD!
CJ's comment in the 20th minute doesn't exactly inspire confidence:
Big gaps in this Boro defence and Bolton are exploiting them. This time, Bair played in behind. Phillips does well to stay with him so he can't work a better angle, and he can only flash a chance across the face of goal.
Early lead for Boro: Aidan Morris in the 13th minute, assisted by ACD!
Lanky Will makes it 0-2 in the 31st minute, assisted by TC. CJ:
That was superb football from Boro. Work it out to Conway and he can slide across the box for Lankshear to tap in his 12th of the season, just moments after being denied by another superb Bazunu save.
Quote from Keith Hill, the ex Bolton boss, quoted in the Beeb's text commentary:
Sometimes you've just got to hold your hands up. That was a goal to behold, and football at its very best. It was decisive, quick, precise, and you've got to respect Middlesbrough. They are playing far, far above the standard of Bolton.
Boro3 is back - Malanda, of all people, in the 38th minute, assisted by Seb B (corner).
Tough Sheet for the Trotters after one half, though they did pull one back in injury time...
Well what a totally dominant first half performance and deservedly two goals to the good but should have been three but we manage to let in a sloppy goal in added time.
Our second was a superb team goal and the entire half has seen us produce football of the highest quality apart from the last minute.
The real Riley McGree has turned up and has been at the centre of everything.
Now, let’s win the second half of the game and ensure we remain top of the league, at least until tomorrow.
KH may be able to rest a few late on in the game! 😎
Didn't intend that to sound "mean". Goal difference - look at West Ham's.
Sensational football from Boro in that first half - they looked like Barcelona and felt like they could score with every attack - 19 (20?) shots and great one-touch play - could have scored 6 quite easily. Still, the defence contrived to concede on the stroke of half-time when they should have cleared it on several occasions - hopefully, it won't encourage a comeback but more of the same please!
Beeb summary of the first half:
Bolton have been blown away, but not by Storm Austen, rather by a mercilessly impressive Middlesbrough.
The home side actually had the chance to go ahead but Ruben Rodroigues' weak effort was saved by Radek Vitek and 26 seconds later they were behind to an Aidan Morris goal. Will Lankshear added a second and his tenth of the season before Adilson Malanda headed home a third.
It might have been worse for Bolton but for goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu making two very good saves, while Vitek also denied Rodrigues from distance. Theo Bair's stoppage-time goal might give the Trotters some hope, but in reality they have been totally outplayed.
As it stands, Middlesbrough are going top of the Championship and are doing it in style.
- @chris-from-barlby - Perfectly valid view from you. I suspect you may be more correct about McGree than about Sol B, but I would not be unhappy if you were correct on both counts.
That second goal was an absolute beauty. I hope we don’t sit back in the second half.
I predected a 1-3 win before hand. But it looks like we will see more goals in the second half. My only hope is that Kim Hellberg will shut the shop and put five centre-backs in defence for the second half ...
Interesting to see what changes Bolton will do for the second half and how well we can keep on playing.
I love this Boro side. Up the Boro!
Fantastic first half by Boro who could and should have scored more goals but the Bolton goalkeeper has made a number of excellent saves.
And then Boro take the shine off, by conceding in the very last minute.
If they play as well in the second half then it should be a comfortable win. On the other hand Bolton will believe they’ve been given a life line and will believe if they can nick a second goal then it’s game on.
There’s more goals in this game. All I ask is that Boro score the next goal.
I just hope Kim sets the team to continue playing attacking football and not to relax a bit and defend the 3-1 lead. More of the same is needed.
Fingers crossed as always,
philip of Huddersfield 👍👍
YEs an impressive first half with the exception of the really poor goal given away on the stroke of half time. If anything will galvanise Bolton that will. Several defenders not doing their job and a shot that should have been saved by Vitek as it was virtually right at him.
No changes at the start of the second half, witg get under way with a Vitek save - CJ:
Good move from Bolton to start the half. Dong gets half a yard on the edge and gets his shot away. Low effort, hit well, Vitek reacts well, getting down and keeping hold of it.
Arfsten on for TC in the 69th minute.
1-4 in the 73rd - ACD, assisted by McGree - CJ:
Boro get that fourth goal to surely kill this game off. Clever work from Arfsten out wide to evade a challenge. Comes inside to McGree, who picks out Cozier-Duberry. He faces up his marker, gets half a yard and rockets one into the roof of the net.
Proper performance from the real Riley McGree tonight. So good.
It was very good to see Kim Hellberg take McGree and Lankshear off. Don't want them to get rusty in all that rain.
And now it's 1-5 - a second for Lanky Will in the 78th minute, assisted, again, by McGree. Doing the GD no end of good. 🙂
Malanda goal now down as an OG (Brunt)
Castledine, Sarmiento & Joseph on for McGree, ACD & Lanky Will in the 80th minute.
What a super goal by young Duberry. As in the first half the Bolton goalkeeper is outstanding.
Surely the game is over with 17 minutes to play.
Philip of Huddersfield 👍😁👍
Comment from a Bolton supporter quoted by the Beeb:
Totally out-classed. Credit where credit is due, Middlesbrough look more like a Premiership team than some current Premiership teams. Ruthless on the break and very organised. A real lesson for my BWFC this evening! Good luck Boro for the rest of the season!
And Keith Hill again:
I think the Bolton staff, players, and fans know they've been beaten by the best team in the Championship.
Middlesbrough have been excellent.
Top of the table for 24 hours. GD now +10 (Hammers +18).
Can't sniff at a 5-1 away from home AND ending up Top of the League at FT!