Middlesbrough 2 Bolton 0

Last updated : 05 October 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren will be a happy man when he reports for duty with the England squad this week.

His team are third in the Premier League and should attract 30,000 crowds to the Riverside Stadium on a regular basis with this type of entertaining football.

There is movement, pace, and scoring ability in the Boro side while the defence has the best record in the top flight.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce was not happy over either goal but this should not detract from the fast-flowing football that Boro displayed in the first half.

Boro could have been two goals up in the opening minutes, but Massimo Maccarone and Alen Boksic both shot wide.

Bolton were pressed on the defensive and it was no surprise when Ugo Ehiogu put Boro ahead with a header from a Geremi left-wing corner in the 23rd minute.

After the break Bolton went out to make amends for their disappointing showing, no doubt responding to a rocket from Allardyce.

The Lancashire side were livelier after the break but any chance of pulling the game round was crushed with a disputed Geremi goal.

The Cameroon wing-back broke through and finished with Bolton expecting an offside flag. Their protests to the referee were in vain.

McClaren said: "Today was a very important game for us. I wanted to gauge the reaction after a very good win at Spurs. They could not have performed better.

"From the first whistle we were at them and we could have been three goals up before we scored."

McClaren singled out Geremi for special praise: "Geremi is getting better with every game. He has pace, power and ability."

Allardyce summed up: "I am very disappointed at the way the goals were conceded.

"I am told the first was not a corner and the second came at a time when we were pushing forward and having our best spell.

"It is a bit of a worrying time for myself and the team. We are not putting our chances in the net."