Middlesbrough 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

AT this stage of the season, it is points rather than performances that matter. On Saturday, Middlesbrough were irrepressible as they outclassed Leeds United, but somehow finished with nothing. Last night, they produced one of their most disjointed displays of the season, yet still claimed a much-needed win.

Two very different performance levels; two very different matches in terms of chances created and threat to the opposition goal. Come May, however, you won’t find many Boro supporters complaining if last night’s maximum points haul proves crucial in the final reckoning.

Albert Adomah’s first-half strike was ultimately sufficient to see off a surprisingly resolute Bolton side, with the winger converting after Lee Tomlin’s rare moment of quality unlocked the visitors’ back four. Tomlin also hit the crossbar in the final two minutes of the game.

The goal spared Patrick Bamford’s blushes, with Boro’s leading goalscorer enduring a rare off night as four decent opportunities went begging.

Beyond that, there was nothing really in the game, with Bolton’s own attacking threat limited to the occasional set-piece and a succession of relatively harmless long balls tossed into the area.

The hosts dealt with them effectively, and consequently remain within two points of league leaders Derby County, who won against Charlton Athletic. Just as importantly, they are guaranteed to remain ahead of Bournemouth, no matter what the south coast side do at Nottingham Forest tonight.

Karanka had praised his players’ efforts in the weekend home defeat to Leeds, but it was telling that Tomlin and Bamford both returned to the starting line-up, along with goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos and full-back Ryan Fredericks. If there is such a thing as Middlesbrough’s first-choice starting XI, last night’s selection, aside from the injured Daniel Ayala, was surely it.

Karanka also spoke about the need to cut out individual errors in the build-up to the game, so he will hardly have felt too reassured when Fredericks’ nervous fifth-minute back-pass almost afforded veteran striker Emile Heskey a clear run on goal.

Konstantopoulos left his line to hack clear, but the incident hinted at an edginess that was not apparent in Boro’s play a month or so ago. As the tension rises with the end of the season approaching, so it seems does the error count.

As well as committing individual mistakes in the last few games, Boro’s defenders have also begun to display a slight weakness when defending crosses.

Ayala’s absence is surely a factor, and while Bolton centre-half Dorian Dervite was unable to direct his header on target as he met Barry Bannon’s first-half free-kick, the amount of space he was afforded at the heart of the penalty area was a cause for concern.

Boro had not displayed any cohesion at all at that stage, and while Bamford blazed over from 15 yards after Adam Reach’s 19th-minute cut back teed him up invitingly, it was the half-hour mark before the hosts constructed a genuinely threatening attacking move.

Tomlin’s slick back-heel released Grant Leadbitter, whose surging runs through the middle were always an exception to the lack of tempo in much of Boro’s first-half play, and the skipper in turn moved the ball on to Bamford.

The striker’s prodded shot was deflected over the crossbar by goalkeeper Ben Amos’ legs, but Boro had finally discovered a degree of attacking menace. Four minutes later, and they were ahead.

Tomlin has not quite been able to match the standards that saw him deservedly win January’s Player of the Month award in recent weeks, but he remains Boro’s likeliest route through a well-drilled defence.

The disguised pass that split Bolton’s two centre-halves – Dervite and the returning David Wheater – for Boro’s opener was a wonderful blend of vision and technique, and left Adomah with the relatively simple task of slotting the ball home. The winger had gone 20 games without a goal, but calmly steered his side into the lead.

Having taken a fair while to get going, Boro should really have been two goals to the good at the break, but Bamford displayed some rare profligacy when presented with a clear opening on the stroke of half-time.

A scramble in the box ended with Adomah prodding the ball into Bamford’s path, but from a position inside the six-yard box, the Teessiders’ leading goalscorer somehow prodded over the crossbar.

For once, it was not Bamford’s night, and as if to underline the point, another glorious opportunity went begging nine minutes after the interval.

George Friend displayed commendable tenacity to charge down Dervite’s attempted clearance, and held his composure to roll in Bamford rather than thrash at a shot himself. The Chelsea loanee had half of the goal to aim at as he lined up a side-footed effort, but he swept a shot wide of the right-hand upright.

Bolton had won just one of their previous eight matches before kick-off, and with their lack of fluency clear to see, their best route back into the game was always going to be from a set-piece.

Heskey and Eidur Gudjohnsen – surely, with a combined age of 73, the oldest strike partnership in the whole of the Football League – connected with second-half corners, but the former headed straight at Konstantopoulos while the latter nodded harmlessly wide.

Still, the openings underlined the potential fragility of Boro’s one-goal lead, and the appearance of the combative Adam Forshaw for the somewhat underwhelming Reach with 15 minutes remaining hinted at a desire to protect what was on offer.

Bolton’s final half-chance saw Liam Feeney head wide after Friend misjudged the flight of a cross, and Tomlin almost had the final say as he curled an excellent free-kick against the crossbar with one minute remaining.