Middlesbrough fullback Stuart Parnaby netted an injury-time winner as a late Bolton comeback was thwarted at the Riverside stadium yesterday.
Wanderers took the lead when Stelios Giannakopoulos powered home, but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink levelled minutes later by squeezing in a penalty.
Mark Viduka finished off an incisive move before Hasselbaink claimed his second with a deft lob after the break.
Jay-Jay Okocha's penalty made it 3-2 and Radhi Jaidi's header looked to have secured a draw before Parnaby's goal.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren said afterwards: "The players have shown great character and resolve to dig us out of a hole and get the win.
"When Bolton got their equaliser we looked to be all out of energy, but the subs came on and made a big difference.
"My players showed great character to come back from a goal down and in the end we had the spirit and the character to pull us through."
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce also said: "For the fans it was an absorbing match, but for me our defensive efforts were woeful.
"We should have prevented three Middlesbrough goals and it is something that is really concerning me.
"At the death we committed the ultimate sin by not defending properly and allowing Middlesbrough to score and our away form is causing me a worry now."
Wanderers took the lead when Stelios Giannakopoulos powered home, but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink levelled minutes later by squeezing in a penalty.
Mark Viduka finished off an incisive move before Hasselbaink claimed his second with a deft lob after the break.
Jay-Jay Okocha's penalty made it 3-2 and Radhi Jaidi's header looked to have secured a draw before Parnaby's goal.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren said afterwards: "The players have shown great character and resolve to dig us out of a hole and get the win.
"When Bolton got their equaliser we looked to be all out of energy, but the subs came on and made a big difference.
"My players showed great character to come back from a goal down and in the end we had the spirit and the character to pull us through."
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce also said: "For the fans it was an absorbing match, but for me our defensive efforts were woeful.
"We should have prevented three Middlesbrough goals and it is something that is really concerning me.
"At the death we committed the ultimate sin by not defending properly and allowing Middlesbrough to score and our away form is causing me a worry now."
