AS Bolton last night celebrated Premiership survival at the Reebok Stadium, Steve McClaren was left to ponder on the improvements he must make this summer to turn mediocre Middlesbrough into a genuine top-flight force.

Battling Bolton outfought and out-thought McClaren's men in a first half in which the home side laid the foundation for a victory that secured safety and confirmed West Ham as members of the Nationwide League along with Sunderland and West Brom.

Bolton old boy Michael Ricketts, an interval substitute, threw a spanner in the works when he pulled a goal back on the hour - his first for Boro in nine appearances since his £2.5m January defection.

But with West Ham only drawing at Birmingham, it was ultimately all immaterial and there were scenes of wild jubilation as Sam Allardyce and his Bolton charges made the most of their salvation.

Even with Juninho in their ranks, Boro require more flair and firepower if they are to take what manager McClaren refers to as "the next step'' - and challenge for major honours next season.

In the mercurial Jay-Jay Okocha, Bolton boss Allardyce has a player who embodies both aforementioned qualities.

The Nigeria star shone brightly again yesterday on a grey, wet afternoon in Horwich.

Okocha lightened the gloom in every respect for Bolton when he struck in the 21st minute with a wondrous free-kick, cunningly curled in at the near post from outside the penalty area.

It gave the home side a 2-0 lead and capped a miserable day for midfielder Jonathan Greening, who was one of three players hauled off by McClaren at half-time after he was at fault with both goals.

It was Greening's foul for a crude tackle on Ricardo Gardner that brought him a booking and handed Okocha his set-piece opportunity.

And it was Greening who was robbed by Per Frandsen in the tenth minute, the end result being a scorching 25-yard drive from the Bolton schemer for only his second goal of the season.

In what initially seemed as much a damage-limitation exercise as an attempt to salvage something from the game, McClaren withdrew £8.15m record buy Massimo Maccarone and strike partner Malcolm Christie, reinforced his flimsy midfield with on-loan Brazilian Doriva and rookie Stewart Downing - and opted for a lone frontman in Ricketts.

The introduction of Ricketts predictably drew a crescendo of boos from the Bolton faithful.

But he rammed the jeers down their throats when he knocked in Stuart Parnaby's low centre from around six yards.

Immediately after the sending-off of Boro left-back Franck Queudrue in the 78th minute for a foul on Ivan Campo, there was delight among the home hordes as word spread quickly that Birmingham and West Ham were level.

McClaren had been forced to make changes from the start in attack and defence, with Maccarone returning in place of hamstring victim Szilard Nemeth and Chris Riggott replacing Ugo Ehiogu, who succumbed to a knee problem.

There was also a return for Parnaby at right-back at the expense of Robbie Stockdale.

Bolton welcomed back veteran defender Mike Whitlow from his near-three-month injury exile.

Whitlow's uncompromising approach was just what they needed on such a critical day in the club's history.

Doubtless pumped up even more by the passionate home support, Bolton were intent on making an instant impression.

The sublime Okocha has added the silk to the steel for Bolton in their desperate struggle for survival.

And he was soon displaying his full repertoire of tricks as Bolton pinned Boro back in their own half.

A delightful drag of the heel found Youri Djorkaeff, whose cross from the byline was knocked away.

But when the ball came back to Okocha, he whipped it into the middle where Henrik Pedersen turned his finish narrowly wide.

Boro then had a fleeting opportunity to capitalise on a mix-up between Bolton skipper Gudni Bergsson and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, but Maccarone was unable to cash in.

And Bolton forged forward again to take the lead through Frandsen's piledriver - and send the Reebok faithful into a state of rapture.

The Danish midfielder was the first player booked in the 17th minute when he upended Queudrue and a further caution followed for the hapless Greening - with dire consequences for Boro.

With the game already slipping away, Boro rallied and when Maccarone delivered a dangerous low ball from the left, Gardner raced across to scramble it clear from in front of goal.

Juninho then tested Jaaseklainen with a terrific free-kick, the keeper excelling himself with a fingertip save.

But, after the break, Okocha continued to pose a threat, lobbing just over the angle with Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer at full stretch.

Ricketts went close with a header before stunning the home crowd, but Schwarzer had to be at his best again to twice foil Okocha before Jaaskelainen tipped over a late effort from Doriva.

Result: Bolton Wanderers 2 Middlesbrough 1.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.