Bolton seal first win

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Bolton 2-0 Middlesbrough

A goal in each half by Kevin Davies and Bruno N'Gotty earned Bolton their first win of the season over fellow strugglers Middlesbrough.

Points were at a premium at the Reebok Stadium after poor league starts for both sides.

And, despite a busy opening, the best early chance fell to Jay-Jay Okocha, whose ambitious shot failed to register.

Middlesbrough were dictating the pace, in a desperate quest for their first victory of the season.

KEY MOMENTS 23 mins: Davies scores from a corner 81 mins: N'Gotty doubles Bolton's lead

But they were caught out on 23 minutes, when Greek international Stelios Giannakopoulos floated in a corner for the hard-working Davies to fire home.

A poor back pass from N'Gotty put the hosts under pressure 10 minutes later.

Brazilian playmaker Juninho latched on to it and squared the ball to Szilard Nemeth in front of the posts.

However, Jussi Jaaskelainen stood tall and beat away his effort for a corner.

By now, Bolton were playing with more confidence.

And this was evident in their passing as Giannakopoulos and Kevin Nolan found room and space down the right.

Teams will find it hard to come to the Reebok and get anything from the game, all we need now is a fit Jardel From And We All Hate Ricketts Ricketts Have your say on 606

Former Bolton striker Michael Ricketts came on for Middlesbrough after the interval to a chorus of jeers.

But his arrival failed to bring a goal for the visitors, whose pretty touches in midfield rarely evolved into telling chances.

Juninho paid the price for their inefficiency midway through the half and was hauled off by manager Steve McCLaren to his obvious disgust.

And minutes later, Bolton put the seal on their win when N'Gotty rose through a sea of players to double their lead.

Giannakopoulos turned provider again, crossing with an unorthodox overhead kick to tee up his team-mate.

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Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt (Frandsen 69), Thome, Laville (N'Gotty 28), Gardner, Giannakopoulos, Nolan, Campo, Okocha, Djorkaeff (Pedersen 75), Davies.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Jardel.

Booked: Gardner, Djorkaeff, Thome.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mills, Davies, Southgate, Cooper, Mendieta, Greening, Boateng, Zenden, Juninho Paulista (Job 57), Nemeth (Ricketts 45).
Subs Not Used: Doriva, Nash, Stockdale.

Booked: Mills, Cooper, Zenden.

Attendance: 26,419.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).