Goals:
1-0 Vela (61, in space when Heskey laid on the chance for him following a long throw, Konstantopolous had no hope)
1-1 Rhodes (73, predatory finish inside the box after his initial header came back off defender Wheater)
1-2 Rhodes (90, composed header at the far post from a searching Nugent cross from the right byline)
Bookings: Nsue (32, foul), Ayala (36, foul), Davies (64, foul), Amos (79, timewasting), Vela (83, foul).
Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire) - kept control well, and correctly waved away three penalty appeals (two for Boro, one for Bolton) while showing yellow to home keeper Amos for dawdling at 1-1 6
Attendance: 18,196
Entertainment: 3/5
BOLTON (4-1-4-1): Amos 5; Maher 6, Holding 6, Wheater 6, Moxey 6; Osede 6; Pratley 6, Vela 6 (Woolery 88), CLOUGH 7, Davies 6; Heskey 5 (Trotter 70 5). Subs (not used): Rachubka (gk), Danns, Dobbie, Twardzik, Threlkeld.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):
6 Konstantopolous: There was no blame attached to him for Bolton's goal, and while Zach Clough offered anxious moments, he will have busier days than this before the season ends.
6 De Laet: An enthusiastic raider down the flank but missed his chance of glory by spooning over from a few yards just before the break.
6 Ayala: Fine header from a corner as Boro chased the winner had the keeper at full stretch, found Bolton's attack a handful at times without being exposed.
6 Gibson: Partly at fault for the Bolton goal, with Vela unmarked in enough space to score, but otherwise steady on a day Boro's defence did not look its best.
6 Friend: Accomplished as ever without any decisive moments, always ready to join in the attack and dependable at the back.
7 Clayton: Completely assured in the midfield role he excels at, his pinpoint pass launched the attack that produced Rhodes' late winner.
6 Forshaw: A complementary foil to Clayton, decent distribution and awareness in another reliable performance.
6 Nsue: In and out of the game, but set up a spurned chance for De Laet and triggered a penalty claim when Pratley brought him down just before being replaced.
7 Downing: Thought he had broken the deadlock with a mighty effort from range against the underside of the bar, had other moments of quality that came to nothing.
6 Adomah: His crosses kept the Bolton defence on their toes but would have wished to be more influential.
8 RHODES: Reminded everybody - including maybe himself - that he is one of the mostly lethal finishers in the division, with two goals and a cute overhead kick that hit the post.
Subs:
Ramirez (for Nsue 56) Should have fired Boro in front at 1-1 but blazed wide from De Laet's pull-back 6.
Nugent (for Downing 86)
Kalas (for Rhodes 90)
(not used): Mejias (gk), Leadbitter, De Pena, De Sart.
MAN OF THE MATCH: JORDAN RHODES - The Scotland striker has not enjoyed the most bountiful of starts since a January move, but he has that "being there" knack all the best goalscorers possess, and was only the width of a post from a hat-trick.
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