Middlesbrough 1 Bolton 0
Adomah 32
As the cliché goes there are no easy games in the
Championship, not even against a Bolton Wanderers team who have the second
worst away record in the whole division.
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| Albert Adomah tucks the ball under Ben Amos for the games only goal |
On Saturday Middlesbrough were knocked off their perch at the
top of the table after a surprising but not unprecedented defeat to Leeds, last
night’s clash with Neil Lennon’s Bolton was therefore a win at all costs sort
of game in the race for promotion and they delivered. Just.
Albert Adomah’s first half finish was the difference in this
1-0 victory which prevented Boro from slipping into the clutches of the chasing
promotion pack. That was far from the full story as a late Wanderers onslaught
threatened to burst Boro’s charmed bubble and throw them off course.
The hosts were comfortable, almost too comfortable, for the
good part of an hour and had chances to put the game well beyond the reach of a
Bolton team, hampered by injuries and rather blunt upfront.
Nevertheless after Patrick Bamford, back in the side after
coming off the bench against Leeds, squandered two guilt edged opportunities
the result remained in doubt and was only confirmed following four minutes
injury time and a couple of goal mouth scrambles.
"Four days ago, I was saying we had played one of our
best games and lost (against Leeds). Today, we have played one of our worst
games since I have been here, but we have won” said Boro manager Aitor Karanka
after the match.
"We have fixed one part of our mistakes, and that is
the defensive errors. But now we have to fix the attacking mistakes as well
because it is not possible to finish the games with a win when we have problems
like this." He added.
Those “attacking mistakes” will of course be a minor concern;
however with just 13 league games left to play, a positive result was all that
mattered for Karanka here, especially when leaders Derby maintained a two point
gap over Boro at the top of the table and fellow promotion hunters Ipswich, Norwich,
Watford and Brentford all won.
There is no doubt Karanka will be urging his side to kill
similar teams off next time, as two points could quite easily have slipped
through their fingers. Boro let the game become a battle, an unnecessary one at
that, and with half an hour to go they had dig their heels in, just to claim a
result they deserved for a dominant first half display.
Karanka made four changes from the side which started
against Leeds at the weekend. First choice keeper Dimi Konstatopulos was back
from suspension so replaced Tomas Mejias in goal. Further forward Ryan
Fredericks returned at right back and replaced Emilo Nsue. Upfront Bamford was
reinstated as the lone striker with Lee Tomlin just behind, with Kike dropping
to the bench and Jelle Vossen out injured.
After being trounced 4-1 by Nottingham Forest at on Saturday
Lennon made six changes to his team which included a recalls for ex-Boro
defender David Wheater and experienced strikers Emile Heskey and Eidur
Gudjohnsen.
The opening exchanges were a little scrappy and it took
until the 18th minute for the first real chance to arise. Boro
winger Adam Reach charged down the left before cutting the ball back to Bamford
who blazed his first time shot over the bar.
Moments later the Boro striker was presented another
opportunity when Grant Leadbitter threaded a neat ball through the Bolton
backline, from a tight angle Bamford did well to hit the target but was denied
by a strong one handed save from keeper Ben Amos. The visitor’s best chance came when defender Dorian
Devite headed an out swinging corner over the bar and they fell behind soon
after.
Lee Tomlin had found some good pockets of space between Bolton’s
defence and midfield and if anyone, he appeared the player who would create an
opening. On 32 minutes he did. One mesmerising pass from the edge of the centre
circle was enough to slice open the entire Bolton team and send Albert Adomah
through on goal, from there the Ghanaian winger made no mistake by tucking the
ball under Amos and into the net.
Bolton briefly threatened when Saidy Janko dispossessed Clayton
before firing a low shot at goal which Konstantopulos held. Nevertheless there
was a far better chance for Boro to double their lead before half time. After a
good move into the Bolton penalty area the ball fell to Adomah whose shot was
saved by Amos and on the rebound Bamford failed to capitalise firing over the
bar from close range.
There was another chance for the often prolific Bamford
minutes after half time, however on this cold February evening it was clear the
Boro forward had left his shooting boots at home. On 53 minutes a ricochet off
a Bolton defender sent the ball into the path of George Friend who drove in to
the area before squaring the ball back to Bamford, but with the goal at his
mercy and the net ready to nestle he side-footed wide.
That’s where the dominance ended for Boro, as Lennon’s side attempted
to spoil the party. On 61 minutes Janko’s cross had to be headed out by
Fredericks with a number of Bolton players ready to pounce.
With 10 minutes to go substitute Zach Clough ran rings
around the Boro defence before cutting the ball back into the box where
Konstantopulos intervened. Barry Bannen’s teasing cross was then headed over by
Liam Feeney, before Boro defender Tomas Kalas just did enough to force
substitute Adam Le Fondre to shoot wide as Boro hung on. By the skin of their
teeth.
Player Ratings
Dimi Konstantoplos
7- Didn’t have a lot to do but was reliable when needed late on
Ryan Fredericks 7.5-
Came out on top of a good tussle with Feeney
Tomas Kalas 7-
Mopped up the danger well, a few signs he is still getting to grips with his
new team mates
Ben Gibson 7- Looked
back to his solid best
George Friend 7- Rarely
troubled defensively and got forward when he could
Adam Clayton 7-
Robust in midfield making some important tackles
Grant Leadbitter 8- Never
stopped working held the team together
Albert Adomah 7.5-
Took goal well, put in a decent shift on the right
Adam Reach 6.5- Was
quite lively in the first half
Lee Tomlin 8- Possessed
the real quality which made a difference
Patrick Bamford 6-
Missed a couple of good chances
Subs
Adam Forshaw – Only on for 14 minutes, not long enough to
give a fair rating
Kike – Only on for 14 minutes, not long enough to give a
fair rating
My Boro Man Of The Match: Lee Tomlin
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