Middlesbrough Back on Track

Article by e-Middlesbrough correspondent Stephen Davison

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The championship season is now getting back to the Tuesday/Saturday routine that we all know only to well.

Tuesday saw the Boro head to the newly named Macron Stadium of Bolton. Every time the Boro play Bolton it carries fond memories. Bolton were Boro's opponents in Cardiff when the reds won the Carling Cup which still remains the only silverware the club have ever won.

Aitor Karanka made 3 changes to the team, with Mejias keeping his position in goal, in spite of a poor performance against Leeds. Abella kept his place at right back, as did George Friend at left back; Seb Hines replaced Ayala and lined up alongside the ever impressive Omeruo at centre half. Clayton made his full debut in the heart of midfield replacing Dean Whitehead alongside Captain Grant Leadbitter. Adomah lined up on the left, Nsue on the right replacing Adam Reach and Tomlin sat in the hole behind Kike.

Travelling to the game, the talk amongst the fans was very much about the Adomah goal that never was at Elland Road and the blunder made by Mejias in goal. There is no astounding consensus amongst the fans as to who should be in goal. A recent poll in one of Teesside's papers came out pretty much level between Mejias, Dimi and Steeley. At the end of the day, the decision is Karanka's and he prefers the big Spaniard at this point.

Another fantastic away following from the travelling Parmo Army was in attendance to roar on the Reds. The away support the team receives is fantastic and I know that it is very much appreciated by the club.

The game started at a frantic pace with the Boro straight on the ascendancy, Kike had a first minute chance which he hit first time over the bar after good work from George Friend. Just 2 minutes later Kike was put in again and rounded the keeper but the offside flag had been raised. The Boro players looked ready to bounce straight back from the disappointment of Saturdays result away at Leeds.

Boro controlled possession without looking dangerous for the next 20 minutes. It was very much a mirror image of the performance against Leeds. Possession is great but it has to have an end product or a cutting edge.

As the game approached the half hour mark, a flick on put Craig Davies through, who caught out Seb Hines who was the last man, Hines took Davies down in the box and was definitely the last man. The penalty was given but the referee opted to give Hines a yellow card instead of what looked like a certain red. Davies picked himself up and slammed the penalty past Mejias in the Boro goal. It was 1-0 to Bolton against the run of play. Boro only had themselves to blame for being behind as they had controlled possession but had not threatened the goal after the early Kike efforts.

Boro reacted to going behind by taking up where they had left off prior to the goal. They again set about controlling possession and passed from side to side without looking like progressing or penetrating the Bolton defence. Nsue and Adomah were struggling to support Tomlin and Kike, and the midfield 2 were just to happy to sit deep and not support the front 2.

On 45 minutes, Tomlin looked to be upended in the box but the referee waved away Boro's protests for a penalty. When the ball was cleared, it come straight back at Bolton, a ball into the box was handled by ex Boro boy David Wheater as he scooped the ball away from Kike, a penalty was awarded. Grant Leadbitter stepped up and put Bogdan the wrong way from 12 yards, Boro were level 1-1 just before half time. Boro had to be content with being level, especially in light of the fact that they should have been down to 10 men.

Bolton came out for the second half and started very well. Freedman made a tactical change to his system and stopped Boro controlling the ball and dominating possession. Tomlin found far too much space first half and was central to Boro's attacks and possession. In the second half, he wasn't afforded such time. Bolton closed down quicker and stopped the control that Boro's midfield had on the game. The full backs never allowed Boro's wingers to get a run at them and closed them down very quickly. They supported their attacks more often pushing Boro further back. Bolton had more possession and looked far more dangerous without troubling Mejias in the Boro goal.

On 60 minutes, Bolton won a corner. It was swung in towards Mejias who punched weakly straight out of his goal to the edge of the box, Lee shot first time and beat Mejias but thankfully the shot went wide of the Boro goal.

Nsue was replaced by Reach just after the hour mark. This was Nsue's 4th appearance in a Boro shirt and his first league start. He was ineffective and lacked any real creation. It is early days for the wide man but his initial performances have been poor and lacked any pace or productivity.

On 70 minutes, Adam Reach received the ball 25 yards out and hit a fantastic volley which was arrowing towards the top corner but Bogdan managed to get across and turn the shot wide for a corner. Reach had more of an impact in 10 minutes than Nsue had in the previous 60.

Boro had soaked up plenty of Bolton pressure in the second half and started to look to impose themselves more on the game with the home team appearing to fade.

As the game entered the last 15 minutes, Boro started to get back on top. Tomlin went close from range shortly after Reach's volley. Leadbitter tried his hardest with his usual industrious performance to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Clayton was not having the best of games and was wasteful in possession at times. He was looking decidedly like he had yet to settle into Boro's formation. Tomlin again hit another shot on target and started to look more likely as he started to look unplayable.

On 78 minutes, Tomlin played in Reach with a neat ball around the corner and Reach played an identical ball around the centre half to Kike. Kike beat the keeper with a lob into the far corner over the advancing Bogdan with a classy first time finish. Boro took the lead 2-1 and were heading for a first ever victory at Bolton's new ground.

Other than the first 10 minutes, Kike had looked pretty ineffectual and not had a real chance to score, but he kept patient and was rewarded with a chance and a goal.

Karanka reacted by bringing on Ayala for Clayton so Boro now had 3 centre backs hoping to soak up any further pressure and see the game out. Freedman replaced Davies, who had been impressive all night, with Beckford. The Boro fans were happy to see Davies leave the field having given Seb Hines a torrid evening.

On 86 minutes, Bolton looked to have equalised but the referee gave a generous decision for a foul on Ayala and ruled the goal out. Many referee's would have ruled the goal out but many would have let play continue and Boro had got away with it. Bolton looked to build up a head of steam in search of an equaliser.

As Bolton attacked and sent more men forward, they left huge holes behind. Adomah done well and put Tomlin in, he looked up and should have found an unmarked Reach at the back post but instead played the ball to Kike who passed tamely back to Bogdan. Just 1 minute later, Boro broke again and Kike was found by Tomlin and he looked certain to score but put his shot wide. Bolton had lost their shape completely and were desperate to launch the ball into the box in hope of getting a goal.

Whitehead was brought on to replace the impressive Tomlin as Karanka tried to get the team over the line and pick up 3 precious points with a very important win. There were 4 minutes of additional time on the board as Whitehead took to the pitch.

Adam Reach continued to find space and tormented McNaughton in the Bolton defence. He again went beyond him and tried to volley a shot goal wards but it was blocked. In the last minute of injury time, Adomah broke and Boro were 3 against 2, all he had to do was to roll in Reach but instead he tried to find Kike who was tackled. Bolton were now desperate and most of their team was in the Boro half leaving huge gaps.

Boro seen it out with a fantastic 2-1 win, the first victory in Bolton since 1987 when Bernie Slaven scored the winner. This was a very different performance from the Boro. They had controlled the game and possession in the first half but come under constant and intense pressure in the 2nd half. Omeruo was again immaculate at the heart of Boro's defence. As a club we are so lucky to have such a talent on loan and must just enjoy him before he goes on to much bigger and better things. The Boro had ground it out and won ugly, a performance that will instil confidence and prove that the team can win in a different manner to the passing fluid football they showed against Birmingham. They will need plenty more performances like this one if they are to have a successful season.

Richie Smallwood has left the club on an emergency loan to join Rotherham, for whom he had a successful loan period last season culminating in him scoring the winning penalty at Wembley in the League One play off final. This move will become permanent as Boro have accepted a bid of 175k for Smallwood. A hard working, solid centre midfielder, Smallwood come through the clubs acclaimed academy. I wish Richie well in his move and for the future. Christian Burgess has also left on loan and opted to join Peterborough having turned down a move to Hartlepool, where he spent last season on loan.

Patrick Bamford is still expected to sign on loan for the season having been to Rockliffe Park for 2 days this week discussing the move. He is expected to be joined on Teesside by Lewis Baker as the Chelsea/Boro friendship gets stronger and stronger.

We move onto Saturday and welcome the unbeaten Sheffield Wednesday to the Riverside. Wednesday always bring a good following to Teesside so that atmosphere should be a good one. Hopefully the Boro can continue their solid start to the season and remain unbeaten at home and take all 3 points.

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