Championship · Matchday 12 · Toughsheet Community Stadium
Bolton v Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough arrive third on 22 points from eleven, with a single defeat all season and a home record still unbeaten at four wins and two draws. Bolton, up from League One last season, are fifteenth on fourteen points, and their year splits oddly by venue: two wins and three defeats from five at home, against two wins and two draws from six on the road. The distance between the two sides is mostly at the back. Middlesbrough have conceded 1.05 expected goals a game and Bolton 1.65, while at the other end Middlesbrough have created 2.02 a game to Bolton’s 1.34.
Before kick-off: how the two teams stand
Bolton 4W 2D 5L · 14 points
| WH v Preston | 2-1 |
| DA v QPR | 0-0 |
| LH v Lincoln | 0-1 |
| LA v Sheffield Utd | 2-3 |
| LA v Millwall | 0-4 |
| LH v West Ham | 2-3 |
| WH v Cardiff | 1-0 |
| WA v Norwich | 4-3 |
| LH v Stoke City | 1-2 |
| WA v Wolves | 3-1 |
| DA v Southampton | 0-0 |
Middlesbrough 6W 4D 1L · 22 points
| WH v Lincoln | 2-1 |
| LA v Blackburn | 1-2 |
| WH v West Brom | 3-1 |
| DA v Burnley | 1-1 |
| WA v QPR | 1-0 |
| WH v Norwich | 4-3 |
| DH v Millwall | 2-2 |
| DA v Birmingham | 2-2 |
| WH v Wolves | 1-0 |
| WA v Stoke City | 3-2 |
| DH v Cardiff | 2-2 |
League matches completed before this fixture. Figures are correct as at kick-off and are not updated during the match.
The visitors bring a familiar face to the Toughsheet. Amario Cozier-Duberry spent last season on loan at Bolton from Brighton before signing a new deal and heading to Middlesbrough on loan, a sequence The Bolton News retold this week — along with the nickname some of the Wanderers squad gave him, ‘Little Bruv’. Boro head coach Kim Hellberg, quoted in The Bolton News, set no ceiling on him:
“I think he can be absolutely one of the best wingers in the game.”
Hellberg also used his Thursday press conference to describe this as a rare gap in Middlesbrough’s calendar — six days before this game and eight until the next — while ruling out wholesale changes for it:
“But I don’t think anyone will rest in that sense, no.”
The Northern Echo reported the same day that Boro remain without David Strelec, Alfie Jones and Rokas Pukstas.
Live commentary
Commentary updates automatically below — no need to refresh the page.
ARCHIVE Match commentary archive · 68 updates
SCORE1·578'
90+4'fulltimeFull-time
90+1'comment3 added
90'commentMOTM goes to R. McGree
86'sub🔄 S. Berhalter replaced by M. Peart-Harris
79'sub🔄 K. Joseph, J. Sarmiento and Leo Castledine replace W. Lankshear, A. Cozier-Duberry and R. McGree
75'sub🔄 X. Simons replaced K. Dong
78'goalBrittain cut Bolton's defence open and found McGree clean through on goal and layed it off for Lankshear to stroke home
78'goal⚽ Lankshear gets his second of the game and Middlesbrough's fifth!
78'score1-5
73'goalArfsten does brilliantly on the left and plays it back to McGree, who plays it into Cozier-Duberry on the right edge of the penalty area, he goes down the outside and lashes home into the roof of the net
73'goal⚽ Cozier-Duberry surely seals it for Boro against his former club!
73'score1-4
69'sub🔄 T. Conway is replaced by M. Arfsten
68'commentShot — Middlesbrough, Great ball from Morris to find Lankshear who shot from a tight angle which is saved by Bazunu. Moments earlier Bolton had a great chance to fashion a great opportunity but Dong tried to be too unselfish
65'commentShot — Middlesbrough, Conway does brilliantly on the edge of the box to find space for a shot from the edge of the box. His powerful strike was on target but Bazunu made another good save
64'commentCorner — Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough had a 4 vs 2 on the break there but the cross is well defended by Hardie
63'card🟨 Yellow card for Sheehan for a late challenge on Berhalter
63'commentShot — Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough break forward and play it out to Lankshear in space who's shot is well saved by Bazunu
59'commentCorner — Bolton, won by R. Hardie
55'sub🔄 Injured E. Erhahon and T. Bair replaced by R. Hardie and S. Dalby
48'commentChance for Boro as Lankshear wins it back and plays it back to A. Cozier-Duberry who first times it through to Conway. He looks to play in Borges on the overlap but he can't take the ball in his stride
HTkickoffKick-off for the second half
HTsub🔄 A. Ito and M. Conway replace Ruben Rodrigues and A. Famewo
45+3'halftimeHalf-time, 1-3
45+2'goalThe ball bounces around the Boro box and Bolton kept recycling it to Larrazabal on the right who squares it to Bair 12 yards out who smuggles it home!
45+2'goal⚽ Bair pulls one back for the hosts!
45+1'score1-3
45+1'commentReferee allows a two yard wall
45'commentFree kick — Middlesbrough, Erhahon fouls Lankshear from behind just outside the box
41'commentCorner — Middlesbrough, Phillips' shot is deflected behind
39'goalCorner is swung in and Malanda's header is deflected in by Brunt. Looks like an own goal
39'goal⚽ Malanda heads home! 0-3
39'commentCorner — Middlesbrough, McGree drives at Bolton's defence and slips in Lankshear who sends a low cross in towards Conway. Larrazabal just does enough to put Conway off
38'score0-3
37'commentCorner — Middlesbrough, McGree's cross well defended by Brunt
31'goalBrittain on the right plays it into Malanda who delicately flicks it back to McGree, his pass is stunning to find Conway on the left who squares it into Lankshear who taps home. Unbelievable from Boro
31'goal⚽ Will Lankshear scores a second. Simply stunning football from Boro
31'score0-2
31'commentShot — Middlesbrough, Borges slips through Lankshear but his shot is excellently saved by Bazunu again
30'commentShot — Middlesbrough, Cozier-Duberry slides through Brittain down the right who chops back but his shot is smothered by Bazunu
27'commentShot — Middlesbrough, Great ball over the top by Morris into Conway on the left. Conway plays it back to the American international who shoots over the bar from the edge of the box
25'commentShot — Middlesbrough, A loose ball from Gale is pounced upon by McGree who sprints forward and plays an outside the boot pass to Cozier-Duberry who dribbles towards goal. His shot is excellently saved by Bazunu and it goes out for a Boro corner
24'commentCorner — Bolton
23'commentShot — Middlesbrough, Conway plays it into McGree's feet, he turns but his shot is well over from inside the box. Should do better
22'commentCorner — Middlesbrough, Brilliant ball forward from Malanda finds Borges down the left but his cross destined to be tapped home was crucially defended by Toal
21'commentCorner — Middlesbrough, won by Conway
18'commentBolton get in behind again but Bair's shot towards goal comes to nothing
17'commentShot — Bolton, Ruben Rodrigues, the man who has just missed an easier chance, hits it well from range and forces Vitek to parry away
14'goalConway drives to the byline and plays it back to McGree, he slips in Cozier-Duberry down the right and the former Bolton man cut it back into a dangerous area for Morris to tap home
14'goal⚽ Aidan Morris breaks the deadlock
13'commentShot — Bolton, Great play from Larrazabal and Bair who play a one, two. The former slips through Ruben Rodrigues who scuffs his shot straight at Vitek tamely
13'score0-1
6'commentShot — Middlesbrough, McGree from range straight at Bazunu
2'commentShot — Middlesbrough, Morris slips through Conway in the left channel who drives through and shoots just wide, bright start from the away side
1'commentCorner — Middlesbrough, won by Cozier-Duberryedited
20:00kickoffKick-off at the Toughsheet Community Stadium
19:54commentMiddlesbrough lead the Championship this season for build-up attacks (48) and passes per sequence (4.2), while only Cardiff City (9.8) have a lower PPDA value than their 9.9.
19:54commentMiddlesbrough have struck 22 goals across their opening 11 Championship matches this season, their most at this stage of a campaign since 1986-87 in the third tier and their most in the second tier since 1963-64 (27).
19:53commentBolton have lost just one of their last five league games (W3 D1), picking up as many points (10) as in their previous 12 league matches (W2 D4 L6).
19:53commentMiddlesbrough have won each of their last eight league games against Bolton Wanderers; it’s their longest winning run against a side in their Football League history.
19:53commentBolton Wanderers have lost their last four home league games in succession against Middlesbrough, twice as many defeats as across their prior 27 meetings combined between September 1951 and January 2014.
19:52commentMIDDLESBROUGH TEAM NEWS: 2 changes from 2-2 draw with Cardiff. Championship top scorer Will Lankshear and S. Berhalter come in from the start to replace Kyle Joseph and Luke Ayling who both drop to the bench. David Strelec, Alfie Jones and Pukstas remain out
19:48commentBOLTON TEAM NEWS: 4 changes from 0-0 draw against Southampton. K. Dong, T. Bair, Ruben Rodrigues, E. Erhahon all come in for Luca Stephenson, S. Dalby, A. Ito and X. Simons who all drop to the bench. Jayden Nelson picked up an injury in a U21 game which will rule him out for 6 weeks, Forino remains out but isn't far away from full fitness again
19:44commentGood evening Hellberg never had a beard before I swear ! Mandela effect .
19:43commentMiddlesbrough Bench: S. Byram, L. Ayling, M. Peart-Harris, J. Sarmiento, M. Arfsten, C. Barron, Leo Castledine, K. Joseph, S. Brynn
19:42commentBolton Bench: J. Bonham, X. Simons, B. Davies, S. Dalby, S. Iling-Junior, A. Ito, M. Conway, Luca Stephenson, R. Hardie
19:31commentTeam news: Bolton line up 4-2-3-1, G. Bazunu in goal. Middlesbrough line up 4-2-3-1, R. Vítek in goal. Cozier-Duberry returns to the Toughsheet on loan at Middlesbrough after last season's loan at Bolton.
19:01score0-0
What the models say
The two models disagree about this one, and that is worth stating rather than quietly publishing whichever reads better. The outcome model makes it 43.5% Middlesbrough, 32.2% Bolton and 24.3% a draw. The goals model, working from about 1.51 goals for Bolton and 1.07 for Middlesbrough, comes out the other way: 47.5% Bolton, 27.1% Middlesbrough and 25.3% the draw. Same fixture, opposite directions.
What they do agree on is that it should be tight. The goals model puts 66.0% on the match finishing within one goal, leans slightly under 2.5 goals at 52.3%, and is almost exactly even on both teams scoring at 51.1%. The three likeliest scorelines are 1-1 (12.0%), 1-0 (11.6%) and 2-1 (9.2%) — none of them better than about one chance in eight. Neither model knows who is fit.
Match Prediction
The table before kick-off
Match commentary timeline
Auto-generated from live commentary. 68 entries between kickoff and full-time.
1′ comment Corner — Middlesbrough, won by Cozier-Duberry
2′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, Morris slips through Conway in the left channel who drives through and shoots just wide, bright start from the away side
6′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, McGree from range straight at Bazunu
13′ score 0-1
13′ comment Shot — Bolton, Great play from Larrazabal and Bair who play a one, two. The former slips through Ruben Rodrigues who scuffs his shot straight at Vitek tamely
14′ goal ⚽ Aidan Morris breaks the deadlock
14′ goal Conway drives to the byline and plays it back to McGree, he slips in Cozier-Duberry down the right and the former Bolton man cut it back into a dangerous area for Morris to tap home
17′ comment Shot — Bolton, Ruben Rodrigues, the man who has just missed an easier chance, hits it well from range and forces Vitek to parry away
18′ comment Bolton get in behind again but Bair’s shot towards goal comes to nothing
21′ comment Corner — Middlesbrough, won by Conway
22′ comment Corner — Middlesbrough, Brilliant ball forward from Malanda finds Borges down the left but his cross destined to be tapped home was crucially defended by Toal
23′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, Conway plays it into McGree’s feet, he turns but his shot is well over from inside the box. Should do better
24′ comment Corner — Bolton
25′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, A loose ball from Gale is pounced upon by McGree who sprints forward and plays an outside the boot pass to Cozier-Duberry who dribbles towards goal. His shot is excellently saved by Bazunu and it goes out for a Boro corner
27′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, Great ball over the top by Morris into Conway on the left. Conway plays it back to the American international who shoots over the bar from the edge of the box
30′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, Cozier-Duberry slides through Brittain down the right who chops back but his shot is smothered by Bazunu
31′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, Borges slips through Lankshear but his shot is excellently saved by Bazunu again
31′ score 0-2
31′ goal ⚽ Will Lankshear scores a second. Simply stunning football from Boro
31′ goal Brittain on the right plays it into Malanda who delicately flicks it back to McGree, his pass is stunning to find Conway on the left who squares it into Lankshear who taps home. Unbelievable from Boro
37′ comment Corner — Middlesbrough, McGree’s cross well defended by Brunt
38′ score 0-3
39′ comment Corner — Middlesbrough, McGree drives at Bolton’s defence and slips in Lankshear who sends a low cross in towards Conway. Larrazabal just does enough to put Conway off
39′ goal ⚽ Malanda heads home! 0-3
39′ goal Corner is swung in and Malanda’s header is deflected in by Brunt. Looks like an own goal
41′ comment Corner — Middlesbrough, Phillips’ shot is deflected behind
45′ comment Free kick — Middlesbrough, Erhahon fouls Lankshear from behind just outside the box
HT sub 🔄 A. Ito and M. Conway replace Ruben Rodrigues and A. Famewo
HT kickoff Kick-off for the second half
45+1′ comment Referee allows a two yard wall
45+1′ score 1-3
45+2′ goal ⚽ Bair pulls one back for the hosts!
45+2′ goal The ball bounces around the Boro box and Bolton kept recycling it to Larrazabal on the right who squares it to Bair 12 yards out who smuggles it home!
45+3′ halftime Half-time, 1-3
48′ comment Chance for Boro as Lankshear wins it back and plays it back to A. Cozier-Duberry who first times it through to Conway. He looks to play in Borges on the overlap but he can’t take the ball in his stride
55′ sub 🔄 Injured E. Erhahon and T. Bair replaced by R. Hardie and S. Dalby
59′ comment Corner — Bolton, won by R. Hardie
63′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough break forward and play it out to Lankshear in space who’s shot is well saved by Bazunu
63′ card 🟨 Yellow card for Sheehan for a late challenge on Berhalter
64′ comment Corner — Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough had a 4 vs 2 on the break there but the cross is well defended by Hardie
65′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, Conway does brilliantly on the edge of the box to find space for a shot from the edge of the box. His powerful strike was on target but Bazunu made another good save
68′ comment Shot — Middlesbrough, Great ball from Morris to find Lankshear who shot from a tight angle which is saved by Bazunu. Moments earlier Bolton had a great chance to fashion a great opportunity but Dong tried to be too unselfish
69′ sub 🔄 T. Conway is replaced by M. Arfsten
73′ score 1-4
73′ goal ⚽ Cozier-Duberry surely seals it for Boro against his former club!
73′ goal Arfsten does brilliantly on the left and plays it back to McGree, who plays it into Cozier-Duberry on the right edge of the penalty area, he goes down the outside and lashes home into the roof of the net
75′ sub 🔄 X. Simons replaced K. Dong
78′ score 1-5
78′ goal ⚽ Lankshear gets his second of the game and Middlesbrough’s fifth!
78′ goal Brittain cut Bolton’s defence open and found McGree clean through on goal and layed it off for Lankshear to stroke home
79′ sub 🔄 K. Joseph, J. Sarmiento and Leo Castledine replace W. Lankshear, A. Cozier-Duberry and R. McGree
86′ sub 🔄 S. Berhalter replaced by M. Peart-Harris
90′ comment MOTM goes to R. McGree
90+1′ comment 3 added
90+4′ fulltime Full-time
score 0-0
comment Team news: Bolton line up 4-2-3-1, G. Bazunu in goal. Middlesbrough line up 4-2-3-1, R. Vítek in goal. Cozier-Duberry returns to the Toughsheet on loan at Middlesbrough after last season’s loan at Bolton.
comment Bolton Bench: J. Bonham, X. Simons, B. Davies, S. Dalby, S. Iling-Junior, A. Ito, M. Conway, Luca Stephenson, R. Hardie
comment Middlesbrough Bench: S. Byram, L. Ayling, M. Peart-Harris, J. Sarmiento, M. Arfsten, C. Barron, Leo Castledine, K. Joseph, S. Brynn
comment Good evening Hellberg never had a beard before I swear ! Mandela effect .
comment BOLTON TEAM NEWS: 4 changes from 0-0 draw against Southampton. K. Dong, T. Bair, Ruben Rodrigues, E. Erhahon all come in for Luca Stephenson, S. Dalby, A. Ito and X. Simons who all drop to the bench. Jayden Nelson picked up an injury in a U21 game which will rule him out for 6 weeks, Forino remains out but isn’t far away from full fitness again
comment MIDDLESBROUGH TEAM NEWS: 2 changes from 2-2 draw with Cardiff. Championship top scorer Will Lankshear and S. Berhalter come in from the start to replace Kyle Joseph and Luke Ayling who both drop to the bench. David Strelec, Alfie Jones and Pukstas remain out
comment Bolton Wanderers have lost their last four home league games in succession against Middlesbrough, twice as many defeats as across their prior 27 meetings combined between September 1951 and January 2014.
comment Middlesbrough have won each of their last eight league games against Bolton Wanderers; it’s their longest winning run against a side in their Football League history.
comment Bolton have lost just one of their last five league games (W3 D1), picking up as many points (10) as in their previous 12 league matches (W2 D4 L6).
comment Middlesbrough have struck 22 goals across their opening 11 Championship matches this season, their most at this stage of a campaign since 1986-87 in the third tier and their most in the second tier since 1963-64 (27).
comment Middlesbrough lead the Championship this season for build-up attacks (48) and passes per sequence (4.2), while only Cardiff City (9.8) have a lower PPDA value than their 9.9.
kickoff Kick-off at the Toughsheet Community Stadium
