Middlesbrough 1 Bolton 0: Adomah keeps his cool

Middlesbrough match-winner Albert Adomah (Picture: Simon Hulme).

Middlesbrough kept up the pressure on Championship leaders Derby as they ground out a scratchy victory over Bolton.

Albert Adomah’s first-half strike was enough to secure their first win in three matches, and ensure they remained in an automatic promotion place.

Their triumph would have been more emphatic had Patrick Bamford not spurned a succession of decent openings.

Lee Tomlin curled a late free-kick against the crossbar as Boro pushed for a second goal.

But head coach Aitor Karanka’s side had to withstand some late Bolton pressure to clinch the win and stay three points clear of the play-off positions despite their recent slight wobble.

Boro suffered their first home defeat since August when they lost to Leeds United at the weekend, and the hosts appeared to be suffering a hangover as they stuttered their way through the opening stages.

The only goal of the game came when Tomlin threaded a delightful ball between Dorian Dervite and David Wheater to release Adomah. The winger had gone 20 games without scoring, but showed no signs of nerves with a calm finish past Ben Amos.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Fredericks, Kalas, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Clayton, Reach (Forshaw 76), Tomlin, Adomah, Bamford (Garcia 76). Unused substitutes: Whitehead, Carayol, Omeruo, Wildschut, Mejias.

Bolton Wanderers: Amos, Vela, Wheater, Dervite, Moxey,J anko (Le Fondre 83), Danns, Bannan, Feeney, Gudjohnsen (Clough 71),Heskey. Unused substitutes: Twardzik, Fitzsimons, Threlkeld, Slavchev, Walker.

Referee: A Madley (West Yorkshire).