Middlesbrough 3 Bolton 0: Kike in at double as Boro delight Karanka

Widely tipped for promotion having recruited impressively – most notably by signing Stewart Downing – Middlesbrough began their campaign with a drab goalless draw at Preston.

Any thoughts of that result, or the harrowing 2-0 loss to Norwich at Wembley in May, were quickly extinguished as Karanka’s men easily collected the points.

Karanka felt his players suffered from complacency at Deepdale, but there were no signs of a repeat as Middlesbrough entered the break 3-0 ahead after Kike’s double added to Diego Fabbrini’s spectacular opener.

“It could be the best half we’ve played in my time in charge,” said Karanka. “We played really well, especially considering we changed our shape just before the game after seeing Bolton’s team. It was an amazing first half. We played the way I want to play always.

“We have very good players and I have a very good squad. I told them before the game that last week was an example of us entering the game thinking it would be easy.

“We have to have the same attitude as this game, and we have to forget the final and last season.”

Karanka was particularly pleased for Kike, who – with Friday’s big-money arrival David Nugent watching from the bench – put a disappointing end to last season behind him by netting twice.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue, Kalas, Ayala, Friend, Clayton, Leadbitter, Adomah (Forshaw 74), Fabbrini (Stuani 64), Downing, Garcia (Nugent 83). Unused substitutes: Mejias, Stephens, Husband, Fry.

Bolton Wanderers: Amos, Gouano , Dervite, Holding (Wilson 79), Moxey, Spearing (Clough 46), Vela, Feeney (Walker 70), Davies, Danns, Heskey. Unused substitutes: Madine, Dobbie, Twardzik, Fitzsimons.

Referee: J Adcock (Nottinghamshire).

Man of the match: Kike.