The verdict after Middlesbrough's 5-1 win over Bolton

Middlesbrough put in a five-star performance to move top of the Championship with a thrilling victory at Bolton Wanderers.

With Will Lankshear scoring twice, Boro won 5-1 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium extending their unbeaten run to ten games.

The biggest win under Kim Hellberg’s reign, Aidan Morris, Adilson Malanda and Amario Cozier-Duberry scored the other goals and Boro put on an attacking clinic to delight the incredible 5,100-strong Boro travelling army in Lancashire.

Hellberg made two changes to the Boro side after last weekend’s draw with Cardiff City. Starting with the team that started the second half of that one, it meant a return to the line-up for Lankshear and Sebastian Berhalter, at the expense of Luke Ayling and Kyle Joseph.

Lankshear quickly reminded why he’s so hard to leave out, as he played his part in a thrilling first half of football, serving as a great advert for the Championship.

A frantic end to end start saw Boro take the lead in the 13th minute through Aidan Morris, just a moment after his poorly timed offside trap had left Ruben Rodrigues in behind.

His tame effort allowed Boro to go up the other end where former Bolton loanee Amario Cozier-Duberry pulled the ball back from the byline, with Morris arriving beyond Lankshear to tap in.

Boro were playing some scintillating football, but were wide open at the other end. The hosts had their fair share of openings running in behind the Boro defence, but only managed to work Radek Vitek once.

After a frantic and open 25 minutes, Boro finally started to get a grip of the game. As the lively Tommy Conway caused problems, Cozier-Duberry and Lankshear both found themselves denied by excellent saves from Gavin Bazunu.

Boro would eventually find a ruthless edge though, netting twice in seven minutes to extend their lead to three.

Lankshear got the second, as he tapped in from Conway’s ball across the box after some liquid football from Boro - going from right to left on the edge of Bolton’s box, before Riley McGree’s stunning ball got Conway in behind.

The third was a bit of a collector’s item. Berhalter’s corner was headed goalwards by Adilson Malanda, taking a big deflection on its way past Bazunu.

Boro don’t really do easy nights though. They were reminded that their night’s work was not done yet, with Bolton pulling one back with the last kick of the first half. As Boro failed to get a hold of a few loose balls after blocking Bolton efforts, it eventually fell to Thelonius Bair, who wasn’t to be denied through the crowd.

Boro did well to manage the early stages of the second half, ensuring Bolton carried no momentum from their late first half goal.

Gradually they started to increase their attacking threat again as the game opened up and despite Bazunu’s excellent efforts to keep his side in it, Boro eventually killed the game off.

Back at Bolton after his successful loan last season, Cozier-Duberry rocketed Boro’s fourth into the roof of the net, before McGree unselfishly teed up Lankshear for his second of the net and 13th of the season in all competitions.

It sealed a thrilling victory for Boro, fitting to send them top of the Championship. They may leave themselves open at the back at times, but when in ruthless form like this, they’re both a difficult team to beat and a wonderful team to watch.

Boro team: Vitek, Brittain, Phillips, Malanda, Borges, Morris, Berhalter (Peart-Harris 86), McGree (Castledine 79), Cozier-Duberry (Sarmiento (79), Conway (Arfsten 69), Lankshear (Joseph 79).

Subs not used: Brynn, Ayling, Byram, Barron.