MIDDLESBROUGH evoked brilliant memories of an unforgettable win seven years ago as Riley McGree and Morgan Rogers followed in the footsteps of Jordan Rhodes and delivered in stoppage time at Bolton.

Rhodes’ dramatic last gasp winner against Wanderers was a hugely pivotal moment in the 2015/16 promotion winning campaign. A repeat is the ultimate ambition this season.

And while Tuesday night’s stoppage time success ensured progress in the Carabao Cup rather than putting points on the board in the league, it was a much-needed boost for Michael Carrick’s side after a difficult start to the season.

They made life tough for themselves against their League One hosts, starting slowly and falling behind. But Matt Crooks levelled in the first half before the dramatic late show when substitutes McGree and Rogers struck.

This fixture in this competition will always have huge significance on Teesside because of what happened in Cardiff almost two decades ago. A competition that will always be close to the club’s heart is clearly not the priority for Boro this term, but this was a chance to lift spirits.

The first half didn’t, but Boro were much improved and dominant after the break and deserved their win.

Carrick was always going to make use of his squad and it was no surprise that the head coach made six alterations from the team that started at West Brom on Saturday. It was a still strong side, though, with Tom Glover, Paddy McNair, Dan Barlaser, Marcus Forss, Isaiah Jones and Crooks coming into the team.

Home boss Ian Evatt described this as a “free hit” for his promotion chasing League One side and made seven changes. But it was Bolton’s second string that took the lead midway through the first period.

There’d been no chances of note at either end in a slow opening to the game. Indeed, the tie’s first shot on goal didn’t come until 23 minutes in and led to the breakthrough. Bolton worked it well down the right, where Boro had looked shaky in the early stages, Gethin Jones cut the ball back to Josh Sheehan whose low drive was only parried by Tom Glover, and Charles on the rebound couldn’t miss.

Bolton’s tails were up and Boro were off the pace but drew level thanks to a goal from nowhere. Crooks latched onto a McNair through ball and calmy lifted the ball over onrushing keeping Joel Coleman for his first goal of the season.

The goal lifted Boro, who, while lacking oomph and intensity, had opportunities to get themselves in front before the break. Crooks could have had his second after being played in by Jones but the forward opted to try and tee up Forss to his left instead of taking it on himself. Just a minute later Latte Late had half a chance when he got a toe to a loose ball in the box, but Coleman did enough. And on the stroke of half-time, Coleman saved well at his front post to deny Hackney after a Forss cut-back.

It was Coleman’s final contribution, with Evatt changing his keepers at the break and introducing Nathan Baxter, who would be kept busy.

Niggly fouls prevented both teams from finding their stride in the early stages of the second half. Referee Stephen Martin flashed three yellow cards within five minutes of the restart and a fourth before the hour mark.

Boro were much the brighter. Engel, who’d had an unconvincing first half but, like Boro, improved as the game went on burst down the left and called substitute keeper Baxter into action, while Jones and Latte Lath were lively.

The pair were away on a two-on-two counter just after the hour mark only for the referee to pull play back to Boro’s own box and award a free-kick rather than play the advantage. Carrick made his frustrations known.

It was Evatt who will have been the more concerned of the bosses in the dugouts, though. Bolton were tiring and Boro were well on top. McNair had a cross from the right cleared from underneath the crossbar and the bright Jones cut in from the left but couldn’t keep his shot down.

Hackney was next to take aim for Boro, his shot saved at the near post by Baxter, just after Carrick had been forced to replace the injured Crooks, with Morgan Rogers introduced.

Against the run of play, Bolton had a glorious chance to score the decisive third goal when Charles broke behind the defence, but Engel recovered well and poked the ball back to Glover.

Boro kept pushing for the winner they deserved. Rogers had a shot deflected over from inside the box before McNair thundered a strike against the bar.

Carrick turned to his bench again, calling on Josh Coburn and Riley McGree. And it was McGree who hit a stoppage time stunner from outside the box. The Aussie international then teed up fellow substitute Rogers to wrap up the win.