By George, Boro leave it late

It was the Northamptonshire official's decision not to award an 86th minute penalty for a clear foul by Jussi Jaaskelainen on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink that caused the most controversy, with the Boro striker apparently just inside the box when he was caught by the Bolton keeper.

The Finnish custodian received his marching orders but after consulting with his assistant, and being surrounded by angry Boro players, the referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area which came to nothing.

The Teessiders were left to thank Boateng who was in the right place at the right time in the 92nd minute - with only his second goal for the club following his first at Blackburn last month. Substitute keeper Kevin Poole punched Ray Parlour's effort out only for the Dutch midfielder to bury the rebound.

Boro had blown their chance of moving up into fourth spot, but were relieved to come away with anything after Henrik Pedersen had seemingly won the game for the Trotters with less than 20 minutes left.

It was the fourth time in a row that Boro had failed to secure a win in games immediately following their European exertions.

With El Hadji Diouf seemingly intent on annoying every Boro player on the pitch there was certainly plenty of spice in the second meeting between the two teams since last season's historic Carling Cup Final win for Steve McClaren's side.

Sam Allardyce's men were hit by the loss of inspirational skipper Jay-Jay Okocha who was out with a thigh strain, but the major surprise was in the Boro line up with McClaren's decision to rest Mark Viduka - Joseph Job making his first start since the 5-3 defeat at Highbury in August.

Stewart Downing - picking up the Boro player of the month prize before kick-off - somewhat surprisingly started on the right.

The 20-year-old midfielder would have hoped to impress as England announce the squad for the friendly against Spain next week - but possibly in a more orthodox left-sided role.

Both sides began slowly with Boro's only half-chance of the first quarter hour saw Jaaskelainen claim Bolo Zenden's cross from the left which was too high for Job.

Bolton, however, should have done far better right on the quarter hour but Diouf's cross was cut out by Mark Schwarzer after the Senegalese international benefited from Kevin Davies' flick on.

On 24 minutes a rapid Boro move from right to left saw Job exchange passes with Zenden only for the striker's lack of match sharpness allowing Bolton to clear the danger.

A turgid opening spell forced the Boro bench into a re-think. Downing switched to the left, Zenden moved inside and Parlour went wide right.

The effect was almost immediate with Downing's expertly judged cross only just cleared from the head of Hasselbaink in the 29th minute.

A minute later the Trotters had their claims for a penalty waved away after Boateng clashed with Kevin Nolan, but hostilities were just beginning.

Diouf sped down the left only to be stopped by what appeared to be a wrestling clothes line manoeuvre by Tony McMahon.

Parlour made his feelings known, believing the Bolton player made the most of the incident as the two players squared up.

Referee Walton calmed the situation down but minutes later Davies was in the book after taking out Franck Queudrue.

On the action front Gary Speed, known for arriving in the opposition box late, did the same in his own to cut out Parlour's cross as chances proved few and far between in an opening half low on entertainment.

Viduka was on for Job at the start of the second period and, after Boateng had fired over, the Australia international almost put the Teessiders one up.

Great interplay between Downing and Queudrue allowed the Frenchman to cross superbly only for Viduka to see his header crash off the upright with Jaaskelainen beaten.

Diouf was then involved in two incidents that showed the good and bad of the player on loan from Liverpool.

An unpleasant little kick at Tony McMahon earned him a booking on 49 minutes, and then two minutes later he was on the end of Davies' through ball only for his shot on the turn to be saved by Schwarzer.

The on-running spat between Diouf and McMahon continued and it was a foul on the Boro player just after the hour by the Bolton man that saw Parlour cross from the right for Viduka to flash a near post header into the side netting.

The Trotters, however, still posed a threat and their dead-ball expertise paid dividends with less than 20 minutes left.

A corner from the right saw Schwarzer end up in a heap thanks to the combined efforts of centre-backs Gareth Southgate and Chris Riggott, with the ball deflected behind again for another corner.

Schwarzer cleared his head, Diouf sent the ball in and Bruno N'Gotty's header down was turned in on the six-yard line by substitute Pedersen.

Allardyce's side have their critics but their strength is from set-pieces and the Boro defence failed to deal with the danger.

Diouf continued to annoy the home crowd with his time-wasting tactics and Boro continued to miss the few chances they created.

Hasselbaink's free-kick from the edge of the area on 76 minutes brushed the post and then his left-footed shot six minutes later from Parlour's cross flew wide of the post.

With defeat staring Boro in the face it appeared they had been handed a lifeline when they reverted to long-ball tactics in the 86th minute.

Schwarzer's clearance was straight through to Hasselbaink who was taken out by Jaaskelainen as he tore into the box.

Foul? Yes. Sending-off? Definitely. Penalty? The crowd demanded it, the Boro players implored the referee but Walton said no.

Jaaskelainen went the journey with former Boro and Hartlepool keeper Poole on for Diouf. The free-kick was rolled into the path of Hasselbaink who fired horribly over.

It appeared that was their last chance but Boro piled the pressure on to ten man Bolton.

In the second minute of injury time substitute Morrison crossed, the ball was cleared to Parlour whose effort was punched clear by Poole.

Result: Middlesbrough 1 Boldton Wanderers 1.

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