Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Bolton Wanderers

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Saturday Apr 19 2008 03:00

Bolton Wanderers secured a lifeline in their fight to stay in the Premier League after a battling 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough.

The Lancashire side climbed out of the bottom three by virtue of a vastly improved second-half performance.

A win for Middlesbrough would have guaranteed top-flight status, but they now face a tense finale.

This was an extraordinary game in that the home side could have had the points wrapped up in the opening ten minutes but for the brilliance of goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi.

Al-Habsi defied Boro as the home team produced their best attacking spell of the season.

Middlesbrough were without goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who was ruled out with a back injury, with Ross Turnbull making a rare first-team appearance.

But Bolton were without suspended Kevin Davies following his tenth booking of the season in the 1-0 home win over West Ham last weekend.

Middlesbrough began at a tremendous pace and central defender David Wheater nearly gave them the lead after two minutes.

Al-Habsi also produced a brilliant save from Sanli Tuncay, while Julio Arca shot over the bar.

Middlesbrough were the much more impressive first-half side and the first serious scoring attempt by Bolton came after 29 minutes when Turnbull saved from Matt Taylor.

Just before the break, Bolton suffered a blow when Tamir Cohen went off with a head injury and was replaced by Danny Guthrie.Gary Cahill also suffered a head wound but he returned for the second half.

After the break, Bolton came out of the traps and looked more determined and suddenly Middlesbrough had lost their grip.Grzegorz Rasiak headed against the crossbar from Taylor's right-wing corner.

Bolton were playing with much more spirit and Middlesbrough were fortunate to survive when Luke Young headed off the line from Guthrie, while Taylor hit a post.

However, the visitors went ahead after 59 minutes when Turnbull saved from Cahill, but Gavin McCann was right on the spot to score from a yard out.

Bolton manager Gary Megson was a jack-in-the-box in the technical area as he urged on his relegation-fighting side.

Middlesbrough struggled to find a way through a strong-tackling defence.

The defeat left Middlesbrough deflated but in a way it emphasised just how inconsistent Gareth Southgate's team have been this season.

In the previous home game, they had held the might of Manchester United to a 2-2 draw.

Live Commentary

94
The full time whistle goes on a vital win for Bolton sending themselves out of the drop zone despite Boro's very lively start. Disappointment for Boro - Delight for Bolton.

93
Downing shoots from 30 odd yards, a shot born out of frustration more than anything and it sails well over the top. Not going to trouble Al Habsi with that.

92
Luke Young over hitting his cross aimied at Alves but it goes over him and out for a goal kick. Disappointing from the right back.

90
Four added minutes here at the Riverside, can Boro find an equaliser or will Bolton hold out for three points.

90
As we draw into the full time whistle, Alves breaking in behind the back line but he is given offside in a controversial decsion and that could have been a chance for an equaliser.

87
Rochemback striking a shot from distance saved by Al Habsi with his feet but it was probably off target anyway - Megson wants Diouf to run it into the corners but he wants to go at goal.

85
The Boro captain Pogatetz getting very frustrated here as they struggle to win the ball back in their own half. Bolton just looking to stifle the game and run down the clock.

82
Diouf going down under very little contact earning a free-kick in the Boro half and Campo takes his time to take it before over-hitting it and sending it out for a throw in.

81
Bolton getting deeper and deeper here inviting Middlesbrough to come forward and press for an equaliser.

80
Rochemback finds Boateng about 35 yards from goal and he took a shot from range but it is deflected as it goes through the pack of bodies and falls into Al Habsi's arms.

77
Ivan Campo brings Johnson down making no attempt to get the ball but just trying to prevent the attack from gathering pace.

76
Good ball from Rochemback over the top of O'Brien into the path of Aliadiere but his shot from a tight angle is easy for Al Habsi to save.

74
Andrew Taylor coming off for Fabio Rochemback - This is a very attacking move but Southgate will be confident that with only Diouf up top, the risk will pay off.

73
Good play from Downing with a little bit of trickery to win a corner off Steinsson. Downing takes the corner but it doesn't clear the first man and is cleared by Bolton.

71
Boro look to of completely run out of ideas going forward taking too long on the ball and in the end, Young is forced to play the backpass from the half way line.

68
A good bit of play from Arca in a tight space finding David Wheater who struck it well with his left peg but Al Habsi sees it early and catches the shot.

67
Another shout for a penalty for Boro, Pogatetz coming out of defense and finding Alves who felt it was handled as he went round the centre half - More ball to hand really, would have been a harsh one.

65
Jeremie Aliadiere looking to feed off the scraps from the long balls pumped upfield but the Bolton defense are smothering everything in the air in the second period.

63
Adam Johnson comes on to replace Sanli Tuncay, this will push Aliadiere upfront with Johnson going wide right.

63
Luke Young getting down the right hand side to cross the ball in but it is too close to Al Habsi who catches with ease.

62
A complete role reversal in the second half, Bolton starting like a train and Boro have barely come out after the break.

60
The corner comes in and the Turnbull does well to save Nolan's first header but it falls into the box and McCann is first to react and sticks it home to give Bolton the lead.

60
A last ditch clearance from Luke Young off the line after Danny Guthrie had clipped it over Turnbull and it goes for a corner.

57
A fantastic cross from Julio Arca lifting it up to the back post for Downing but Guthrie gets up well to keep Downing from getting a head on it. Super defending there from the subsitute.

56
Steinsson who could have gone into the book earlier, now does for a totting up offence more than anything. That card has been coming.

55
A Bolton change, the ever unpopular Diouf comes on for the injured Rasiak to a round of boo's from the home fans.

55
Great play from Pogatetz beating a couple of players and playing it to Downing who crosses but McCann blocks with what looked like his hand. Nothing given from Alan Wiley - That certainly could have been a penalty.

54
Some severe head wounds here, Cahill is off bleeding and will need to be patched up and Rasiak has gone down with a head wound and will need bandaging up before he can continue.

52
Another save from Ross Turnbull from Nolan's strike, the parry falls back to Nolan but off balance he can only manage to lift it over the bar.

51
Matthew Taylor firing a shot from range after Pogatetz' header falls for him, Turnbull turns it wide. From the corner, Rasiak drifts off the line to flick it onto the top of the bar - Got to score!

50
Bolton starting the second half very well, an Gavin McCann has found a sudden burst of pace to win a corner - Taken short to Campo who drove a shot into the near post but Turnbull is down well to save.

47
Steinsson finding himself in a very advanced position and whipping in a great ball and Pogatetz got a vital flick to take it away from the danger area for a throw in.

46
Now the second period is underway and we will wait and see whether either side can break the dead-lock here.

45
And with six minutes of injury time on the clock, Alan Wiley eventually blows the half time whistle on a game still locked in stalemate after early promise for Middlesbrough.

45
Danny Guthrie comes on to replace Tamir Cohen who suffered a heavy cut to his head after a clash of heads with his own team mate Gary Cahill.

45
Boro have a corner deep into injury time and as it breaks to Boateng strikes in back at goal, it's blocked to claims of handball but nothing given.

45
Matt Taylor making a good run into the box and striking a shot goalbound but Turnbull is able to catch it quite comfortably.

45
Samuel has the chance to launch in a long throw but it is eventually cleared despite Bolton winning the first ball.

43
Steinsson could have gone into the book after he went through the back of Aliadiere to give away the free-kick. The frenchmen needing treatment after that tackle.

41
Another ball in from a set play from Steinsson but unfortunately for Bolton, their target man Rasiak has shown as much attacking potential as a garden gnome as of yet.

39
A chance for some trademark Bolton Wanderers here as Campo has a free-kick about 35 yards out, the big men come up from the back - Boateng clears and almost starts a counter but Tuncay loses out to McCann.

37
A good piece of play on the left hand side as Taylor and Samuel link up to play the ball across to Nolan, who cushions the header down to Cohen who's shot goes wide. Half a chance there.

34
Alves breaking through down the centre with a great turn of pace, Tuncay was with him but Alves tried to turn it onto his right foot to shoot but lost control and it was cleared.

32
A great piece of play from Stewart Downing dropping the ball on top of David Wheater's head who had got in between O'Brien and Campo but the header is just off the mark.

30
Samuel launches in a long throw causing confusion in the box and in the end it fell for Rasiak who forced a good save from Turnbull and it goes for a corner.

29
Rasiak has barely had a touch so far, the service into him from the midfield five has been lackluster to say the least but Boro will be frustrated that it is still only level.

25
Well this is something I have never seen, a semi-streaker, in just his underwear running up to Southgate hoping for a hug, none given by the Boro manager.

24
Another corner for Boro as Arca's bending shot was deflected wide by O'Brien, the corner from Downing is disappointing.

23
Bolton starting to see a little of the ball now and Gareth Southgate will certainly be concerned that Boro may be made to rue those missed chances.

20
Kevin Nolan almost sneaking in behind David Wheater but the defender just muscled him out of it and let it run for Turnbull to gather.

19
Samuel and O'Brien are often being exposed in two on one situations as the two Boro full backs continue to bomb forward and overlap down the flanks.

17
A moment of humor here for the fans, as Arca and Campo go down, and the two physios seem to race their way across the pitch to the players. Boro's physio wins this battle aswell.

16
Bolton desperately trying to get a foothold in this game but Nolan and Campo are being hassled everytime they get on the ball.

13
Still goaless here but it's hard to see why, Boro need to take one of these chances because they are tearing the Bolton defense apart. Aliadiere and Downing are looking very dangerous down the flanks.

10
Gary Megson fuming on the toucline after his side's very poor start, you wouldn't believe this was a side desperate for a result to stay in the division.

9
Another great chance for Alves as Aliadiere gets down the line who centres it for the Brazilian who strikes it well and Al Habsi has to make another good save.

8
Gavin McCann saves the day for Bolton as Luke Young whips in a gorgeous ball to Tuncay who had almost picked out Downing to shoot but a great interception from McCann to deny the chance.

5
Again from the corner it breaks to the edge of the box to Andrew Taylor who has the time to smash a shot at goal and it again goes just too high.

5
All Boro here, Aliadiere making a great break down the line and picked out Alves who struck the shot well and Al Habsi was forced into action again.

2
From the resulting corner, Downing's ball in fell for Arca who cut back onto his left and rifled a shot just over the bar. What a start for the home side!

2
Downing delivers the corner to the near post and Wheater met it beutifully and forced a really good save from Al Habsi who tipped it just over.

1
A promising start from Boro, Downing delivering the free-kick to Aliadiere at the back post and as he tried to pick out Alves it is cleared for a corner.

0
Middlesbrough will be hoping to take three points to secure their safety and take their first win in three games.

0
Welcome to the Riverside Stadium where Middlesbrough play hosts to the relegation strugglers Bolton.

0
Today's referee Alan Wiley gets this one underway.

0
Gary Megson's side will have to cope without the suspended Kevin Davies and there is no place for Diouf today so Rasiak and Tamir Cohen take a place in the eleven.

0
Gareth Southgate is without Schwarzer in goal, so Turnbull comes in between the sticks and there is room in the line up for Aliadiere, Alves and Sanli today.

0
Bolton: Al Habsi, Steinsson, Andrew O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Nolan, Cohen, Campo, McCann, Taylor, Rasiak

0
Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Young, Wheater, Pogatetz, Taylor, Aliadiere, Boateng, Arca, Downing, Alves, Sanli

0
For Bolton Wanderers, two points away from safety, a win here could take them out of the drop zone and after an impressive win over West Ham, they will fancy their chances of taking the points today.

Statistics

Middlesbrough

Shots on target	10
Shots off target	6
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	10
Offsides	6
Corners	7

Bolton Wanderers

Shots on target	9
Shots off target	2
Shots off bar/post	2
Fouls	14
Offsides	3
Corners	4

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