BOLTON'S Premier League fairy tale goes on. Two games, two wins and top of the league.
Wanderers supporters know it won't last -- their ambitions are somewhat more modest -- but they have a belief in Sam Allardyce's men that wasn't shared by the pundits pre-season.
It may be early in the season but the the Reebok faithful were chanting "We are staying up" at the final whistle as Bolton took their points tally to six.
Victory was sealed with a precision finish five minutes before the break from lone striker Michael Ricketts. Kevin Nolan started the move on the left. He fed Ricketts who took a return ball from Bo Hansen and finished in stunning style.
Hansen wasted a great chance to make it two but the visitors rarely looked like breaking down Bolton's solid white wall of defence, despite having all the possession.
Their best chance fell to Brian Deane just after Bolton's goal but defender Gudni Bergsson was on hand to clear off the line.
And Bolton boss Allardyce was beaming after the victory. "It was a win we just about deserved," he acknowledged. "We had two chances, one of which was very well taken by Michael Rickets.
"The other could have taken the pressure off us a little bit but for a better finish from Bo Hansen. But, while Middlesbrough had more of the territorial advantage, our defending was so good they only created one chance.
"Even then Gudni Bergsson did ever so well to get in a block on the goal line."
Of Ricketts, who took his tally to two in two games, Allardyce said: "Michael has shown a great deal of maturity already this season. He realises the dedication needed to succeed at this level."
Next up for Bolton a visit from Liverpool on Monday and Allardyce knows it will be tough.
"We will have to play even better if we are to get something out of the game but I just hope the lads can raise their game a little bit higher.
RESULT: BOLTON... 1 MIDDLESBROUGH... 0
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