How the Middlesbrough players were rated at Bolton after winning 5-1

Five-star Middlesbrough produced a stunning display of attacking football to move top of the Championship table after beating Bolton Wanderers 5-1 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Restored to the starting line-up after last weekend’s surprise decision to rest him, Will Lankshear continued his fine goalscoring form to move to 11 league goals for the season.

Lankshear’s first of the evening put Boro 2-0 ahead of Aidan Morris’ opener, in what was a thrilling first half. Adilson Malanda’s deflected header gave Boro a three-goal lead as half-time approached, but Thelonius Bair pulled one back for Bolton on the stroke of the interval, keeping the game alive for the hosts.

But Boro managed the start of the second half well, killing any hope of a Bolton revival. Gradually making use of the extra space, they killed the game off as Cozier-Duberry scored on his return to Bolton, before Lankshear made it 5-1 with his second of the evening. Here’s how the players rated.

Radek Vitek - 7

Had to make a couple of important saves when the game was still in the balance in horrible conditions, which won’t have made it easy.

Callum Brittain - 7

Another brilliant display at right-back, defending well when he had to, but also supporting the attack so well, with his ability to overlap but also come inside.

Ashley Phillips - 7

With Boro wanting to be so open, it’s evident why Phillips was a top target this summer, with his pace on the half turn, recovering a number of dangerous openings for Bolton.

Adilson Malanda - 8

Doesn’t look like he’ll be credited with Boro’s third goal, but he won the header well in the first place to ensure it ended in a goal. More importantly, he defended well and, like Phillips, never let himself get flustered by the open game. As a bonus, look out for his wonderful flick in the build-up to Boro’s wonderful second goal.

Neto Borges - 7

In a game of such attacking quality, Borges was a bit of an unsung hero with his no-nonsense display, making sure he kept it tight defensively, and getting involved in the attack when needed, but more often than not, filling in as a third centre-back at times to allow Brittain to get forward.

Aidan Morris - 8

Usual tenacity and energy in the middle of the park to keep Boro in the ascendancy, complementing his usual midfield battling with his second goal of the season.

Sebastian Berhalter - 8

Every time the ball was at his feet it felt like he produced a pass that unlocked the defence. His quality on the ball was brilliant.

Riley McGree - 9

McGree ended the game with two assists in his best performance of the season so far. He picked up clever spaces throughout and was constantly at the heart of making things happen. His ball is the one that unlocks the defence for the second goal too.

Amario Cozier-Duberry - 8

A goal and an assist on his return to Bolton, it takes his goal involvements to seven in seven games. He wasn’t as involved as Conway, but when he did get the ball, he tended to look dangerous.

Tommy Conway - 9

Absolutely brilliant from minute one, causing a threat with his excellent runs in behind from the left. Set-up Lankshear's goal and ran himself into the ground before his sub. Looked dangerous every time he got the ball in a brilliant performance. It was one that earned him man of the match and deserved a goal, which he would have had but for a brilliant Gavin Bazunu save.

Will Lankshear - 8

Back in the starting line-up and back among the goals. He scored twice to move to 13 goals for the season, with his presence making such a difference.

Subs

Max Arfsten (For Conway, 69’) - 7 - Did well from the bench and played a big role in Boro’s important fourth goal to kill the game off.

Leo Castledine (For McGree, 79’) - N/A

Jeremy Sarmiento (For Cozier-Duberry, 79’) - N/A

Kyle Joseph (For Lankshear, 79’) - N/A

Myles Peart-Harris (For Berhalter, 86’) - N/A