Having gone into the game with only 11 goals to their credit this season, Bolton increased that total handsomely at the Riverside, with even their misfiring record signing, the Swede Johan Elmander, scoring his second goal of the season to secure the points on 78 minutes.

That put the seal on an excellent performance by Bolton, who scored early goals through Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor, then soaked up most of what Middlesbrough could throw at them and conceded only a late goal from Emanuel Pogatetz.

Middlesbrough began looking for a result that would have given them the longest undefeated run since Gareth Southgate took charge in 2006 and with two of their most potent attacking forces, Stewart Downing and Tuncay – who scored a hat-trick for Turkey – full of confidence after the midweek internationals.

Bolton, on the other hand, have been grumbling about recognition Fabio Capello should be giving to their 22-year-old centre-half Gary Cahill and on the evidence of yesterday, Gary Megson had a strong point. The former Aston Villa player was instrumental in protecting Bolton’s early lead.

Matching him – and another whom Capello is no doubt watching – was the marauding Fabrice Muamba, born in the Congo but an England under-21 international. How Arsène Wenger must wish he still had this player, who bore more than a passing resemblance to Patrick Vieira.

Bolton were ahead after eight minutes. Pogatetz had been booked for a foul on Elmander, and Matt Taylor swung in a vicious free kick to the far post, where Gretar Steinsson was unmarked. His header went in with the aid of a deflection off the back of Kevin Davies, who had ducked to get out of the way and who raised his finger to claim the goal with a sheepish smile.

Steinsson was also involved in the second two minutes later. Again, Middlesbrough were exposed down the right and, when Steinsson delivered a low cross, Taylor flicked the ball past Gary O’Neil with his first touch and whipped in a beautiful left-footed shot that flew past Ross Turnbull and went in off his right-hand upright.

Two minutes later O’Neil could have made amends but his shot was cleared off the line by Kevin Nolan. Try as they might, Boro could not find a way through the midfield shield erected by Gavin McCann, Nolan and Muamba, who always threatened to inflict further pain on the home side as he bestrode the midfield. He constantly dispatched his colleagues on dangerous counter-attacks and should have put the game beyond Middlesbrough on 56 minutes after Elmander had powerfully shrugged off a couple of challenges and put him through on goal. A goal would have capped a perfect performance, but he slid the ball wide.

Still Bolton rarely looked vulnerable, but Middlesbrough got back in the game when Davies made a mess of a clearance from a corner and Pogatetz blasted the ball high into the net. Any thoughts of a late comeback were smothered within a minute as Jlloyd Samuel crossed to Elmander, who got in front of Pogatetz and hit a low shot past Turnbull.

Star man: Fabrice Muamba (Bolton)

Yellow cards: Middlesbrough: Pogatetz, Digard

Bolton: Muamba, Cahill, Samuel, Nolan, McCann

Referee: M Atkinson

Attendance: 24,487

MIDDLESBROUGH: Turnbull 6, Hoyte 5, Wheater 5, Pogatetz 5, Taylor 5 (Arca 76min), Aliadiere 6 (Johnson 58min, 5), Digard 5, O’Neil 5, Downing 5, Tuncay 6, Alves 4 (Emnes 74min)

BOLTON: Jaaskalainen 6, Steinsson 7, O’Brien 7, Cahill 8, Samuel 7, Muamba 9, Davies 7, Nolan 7, McCann 7, Taylor 7 (Gardner 88min), Elmander 8 (Smolarek 83min)