LEAGUE matches are something Middlesbrough have struggled with at a time when progress has been made to cup quarter-finals. Yesterday Steve McClaren's men proved they still have the desire to turn on the style in the Premiership.

There have been many changes recently, but at the Riverside Stadium yesterday Boro showed they have no intention of allowing the league campaign to descend into freefall by delivering a never-say-die performance that ended with an injury-time win courtesy of Stuart Parnaby's late, late strike.

A seven-goal thriller with Bolton had everything, including Austrian Emanuel Pogatetz charging around the field seeking retribution after being elbowed in the face by Bolton striker Kevin Davies.

And, although it didn't look like it at times, Boro successfully responded to giving away a two-goal advantage by finding the last-gasp winner that has put a dent into Bolton's chances of finishing fourth this season.

Sam Allardyce had been looking for his side to earn a third successive victory but, in the end, it was McClaren's men that were left with all the points and avoided a third consecutive league defeat in the process.

The victory has ensured Boro now sit 13 points above the relegation zone with eight Premiership matches remaining, meaning they can focus completely on Thursday's UEFA Cup quarter-final, first leg in Basel, Switzerland.

At the start of the encounter things did not look like they would go to plan when Stelios Giannakopolous put Bolton in front. Goals from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (two) and Mark Viduka did, though, put Boro in the driving seat.

However, the victory appeared to have passed the home side by when Bolton clawed themselves level when playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha and defender Radhi Jaidi scored during a frenetic second-half.

But Boro, with Pogatetz leading the charge after being left with blood streaming down his face from his late clash with Davies, kept going and scored the crucial winner through Parnaby in the 92nd minute.

It was at this stage last season that both of these clubs had serious eyes on qualifying for Europe via their placing the league.

This year, unlike 12 months ago, only Bolton are in contention, despite failing to advance as far in the UEFA Cup as their North-East counterparts.

In fact, and this result has reduced their chances, there remains a possibility the Trotters will achieve the unthinkable and claim a highly-coveted top four place; not that the miserable away turnout at the Riverside yesterday would suggest such.

But where Boro still hover too close to the relegation zone for comfort, the team from Teesside do have the huge consolation of reaching two cup finals.

And, with so many vital games on the horizon, McClaren once again showed where his priorities lie by making five changes to the side that ground out the goalless FA Cup quarter-final draw with Charlton on Thursday.

But while Gareth Southgate missed out on his 200th league appearance for the club and top-scorer Aiyegbeni Yakubu started on the bench, Mark Schwarzer did retain his place after recovering from a knee problem suffered at the Valley.

The opening goal, inside just three minutes for the visitors, was not so much down to personnel, more a failure to quickly adapt to the tinkering of the system and a new-look three-man central defence.

At the heart of that triumvirate was Ugo Ehiogu, with a bandage wrapped around his head, and it was his failure to deal with a routine long ball from Jussi Jaaskelainen that was the root of the problem.

Ehiogu's header, as he leapt in the air with Kevin Davies, went in the opposite direction to where it was intended.

Both Andrew Davies and Franck Queudrue failed to clear the mess up and midfielder Stelios beat Schwarzer from eight yards.

Yet, with the exception of two decent Schwarzer saves from low, driven long-range shots from Gary Speed and Okocha, Bolton's reaction to taking the lead was one of panic; highlighted by the stupid way the equaliser was conceded.

Fabio Rochemback's free-kick from the left was flying towards the head of Pogatetz when the outstretched arm of right-back Liam O'Brien appeared to push the ball to safety.

Referee Howard Webb had little choice but to point to the spot and Hasselbaink, albeit fortuitously, levelled matters with a finish that only just squirmed underneath Jaaskelainen.

Not to be outdone by the Dutchman, his strike partner for the day, Viduka, then began to revel in the occasion and tormented the Bolton rearguard on a couple of occasions before he actually put Boro in front.

Firstly he received James Morrison's pass into the near post with his back to goal, he then dragged the ball back and completely bamboozled centre-back Radhi Jaidi before his shot was saved by the feet of the Finnish keeper.

But he was not to be denied on the half-hour mark when he put the finishing touches to a glorious move.

A free-flowing move, involving many passes, ended when Rochemback's chip into the area was chested down by Hasselbaink and Viduka placed his shot beyond Jaaskelainen.

For the remainder of the half Bolton huffed and puffed but failed to test Schwarzer.

Unlike Jaaskelainen, who had to make an important stop to deny Viduka on the whistle and Hasselbaink fired the rebound into the side-netting.

Despite having eyes on other competitions, Boro were still keen to avoid slipping to a third successive league defeat for the first time since May 2004 and within minutes of the restart any fears of that should have disappeared.

A goal Bolton would have been proud of came from a long punt up-field from Franck Queudrue's free-kick.

Viduka missed his attempted flick on as he challenged in the air and the ball fell nicely into the path of Hasselbaink.

The former Chelsea man then looped his shot over Jaaskelainen and in off the far post, despite the best efforts of Jaidi on the line, for his 15th of the campaign.

A game that was open from outset continued to be played in such a manner and suddenly Bolton did burst into life again, and Ehiogu handed them a lifeline when he brought down substitute Jared Borgetti as the hour approached.

Okocha's penalty was saved by Schwarzer low to his left but the flamboyant Nigerian successfully reacted first to the rebound and fired high into the roof of the net.

As Bolton pushed in search of the equaliser, and referee Mr Webb infuriated both sets of players and supporters with a number of bizarre decisions, Boro found gaps across the pitch more regularly.

On one occasion Hasselbaink, moments before being replaced by Yakubu, was allowed to run 40 yards before picking out Viduka out on the left.

He then found Rochemback on the edge of the area but the Brazilian's bullet was plucked out of the air by Jaaskelainen.

And Boro's nervy defence lost concentration with nine minutes remaining to throw away the two-goal lead they had built up. A failure to meet Anthony Gardner's cross from the left allowed Jaidi to charge in and head beyond Schwarzer.

But Boro, angered by the clash between Davies and Pogatetz, hit back and in the dying seconds Parnaby slid in at the back post to convert Yakubu's left wing cross.

Result: Middlesbrough 4, Bolton Wanderers 3.

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