Bolton vs Middlesbrough 1-5

Middlesbrough won 5-1 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium after a 2-2 half-time score turned into a one-sided second half. Will Lankshear’s second goal of the match and late strikes from Amario Cozier-Duberry and Aidan Morris settled it.

Aidan Morris opened the scoring in the 13th minute, finishing Amario Cozier-Duberry’s assist for 1-0. Will Lankshear made it 2-0 on 31 minutes from Tommy Conway’s pass, before Lewis Brunt put through his own net in the 39th minute to make it 2-1. Bolton levelled three minutes into first-half stoppage time when Thelonius Bair, assisted by Gaizka Larrazabal, made it 2-2.

Bolton made two changes at the break and another double change on 55 minutes, but Middlesbrough moved back in front in the 73rd minute when Cozier-Duberry scored from Riley McGree’s assist to make it 3-2. Lankshear then made it 4-2 on 78 minutes, again set up by McGree, before Middlesbrough made three changes on 79 minutes. The away side sealed it late on, with Morris scoring in the final minute to make it 5-1.

The numbers backed Middlesbrough’s win. They had 60% of the possession, 554 passes to Bolton’s 366, and 31 shots to 12, with 12 on target compared with four. Middlesbrough also finished with 12 corners, while Bolton had two. Bolton’s eight saves reflected the pressure they were under, and Middlesbrough’s xG of 4.16 was well above Bolton’s 0.91.

Bolton had one booking, with Josh Sheehan cautioned in the 63rd minute. There were no red cards.