Middlesbrough score five to move top of the Championship, Lankshear nets twice
Middlesbrough's emphatic win over Bolton sees them rise to the Championship summit, with Lankshear shining again.
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Middlesbrough surged to the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a resounding 5-1 victory over Bolton at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Will Lankshear played a pivotal role, scoring twice to bring his tally to 11 league goals and 13 in all competitions this season. Aidan Morris and Amario Cozier-Duberry also found the net, while Lewis Brunt inadvertently contributed to the scoreline with an own goal.
The match began with Middlesbrough demonstrating their intent, earning a corner within the first minute. They quickly capitalised, with Morris scoring just 13 minutes in after a setup from Cozier-Duberry. Despite Bolton's goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu making several impressive saves, Lankshear doubled the lead shortly after the half-hour mark, showcasing excellent teamwork in the build-up to his goal.
Middlesbrough's dominance continued as they extended their lead to 3-0 just before half-time. A corner from Adilson Malanda was inadvertently headed into the net by Brunt. Bolton managed to pull one back through Theo Bair just before the interval, but they struggled to maintain momentum in the second half, allowing Boro to regain control of the match.
As the second half progressed, Bolton's attempts to rally were thwarted by more solid defending from Middlesbrough. Cozier-Duberry scored the fourth goal after receiving a pass from Riley McGree, before Lankshear capped off the night with his second goal, benefiting from another assist by McGree after a swift counter-attack. Middlesbrough's performance highlighted their attacking prowess and clinical finishing.
Following the match, Middlesbrough's manager Kim Hellberg expressed satisfaction with the team's fluid play and ability to exploit space. He acknowledged the challenge posed by Bolton but noted that scoring five goals mitigated the disappointment of conceding one. Meanwhile, Bolton's manager Steven Schumacher admitted that Middlesbrough's quality was evident and that his side needed to learn from the experience.
via Sky Sports