Megson plans his New Year shopping

IT is proof positive of the Premier League’s febrile environment that, a month after Gary Megson was wondering whether he would still have a job in the new year, he is now making bold demands for funds for a January spending spree.

Megson, who smashed Bolton’s transfer record to sign Johan Elmander, a scorer here, insisted he must be allowed to bring in new faces to banish fears of relegation.

But after picking up five bookings Megson admitted the threat of suspensions could have a major impact on his small squad and insisted he would be looking to strengthen his team in January.

“We’ve got probably the smallest squad there’s ever been in the Premier League and we’ve got to improve on that in January,” he said.

“I don’t feel we’ve got a team that will struggle but we’ve got a squad that will struggle and if we have to cope with a few injuries we might struggle if we don’t bring players in.

“It will be a problem for us coping with suspensions. When we were without Johan and Gary [Cahill] and Matt [Taylor] at the start of the season we weren’t doing particularly well.”

Bolton made a flying start, Kevin Davies deflecting home Gretar Steinsson’s header after eight minutes and Taylor adding a second just two minutes later when he rifled home after turning Gary O’Neil in the box.

A grandstand finish seemed likely when Boro finally scored in the 75th minute, the visitors failing to clear a corner and Stewart Downing lashing home with a left-foot effort just inside the box, but Bolton replied with Elmander’s stunning strike which gave the Swede his first goal since the opening day of the season.

In contrast, Boro’s lack of a persistent threat up front will have worried Southgate. Chief among the culprits was Brazilian striker Afonso Alves who has netted just three times so far this season and was withdrawn by Southgate in the second half.

“I thought his head dropped a little bit,” he said. “It’s a very different league for him and a very different challenge. It’s physically much tougher and Bolton are a strong, physical team.”

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Turnbull 6, Hoyte 5, Wheater 5, Pogatetz 6, Taylor 5 (Arca 76, 5), Aliadiere 4 (A Johnson 58, 5), O’Neil 6, Digard 5, Downing 6, Alves 5 (Emnes 75, 5), Tuncay 5.

Subs Not Used: Jones, Hines, Grounds, Walker.

BOLTON (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen 7, Steinsson 7, Cahill 7, A O’Brien 7, Samuel 6, Taylor 7 (Gardner 89, 5), McCann 8, Muamba 8, Nolan 7, Elmander 7 (Smolarek 84, 5), Davies 7.

Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Riga, Shittu, Basham, Obadeyi.

REFEREE: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire) 7: Kept control with some ease, although he was never overly tested by the players.

MATCH RATING: *** Bolton’s revival continues with a fine performance. Boro remain inconsistent.