Boateng salvages draw for Boro

Middlesbrough 1 Bolton 1

George Boateng scored only his second goal for Middlesbrough to earn a Barclays Premiership point against Bolton.

Boateng struck deep into injury time just when it seemed that Henrik Pedersen had grabbed a winner for Bolton in a hard-fought contest at the Riverside.

Bolton began time-wasting with half an hour left to go – Diouf in particular winding up the crowd with his theatrics before corners.

But it was from such a flag-kick which Bolton took the lead in the 72nd minute. Diouf’s deep corner was headed down by N’Gotty and Pedersen flicked his foot out to divert the ball past Schwarzer.

Hasselbaink nearly put Boro back on level terms with a ferocious free-kick which clipped the outside of the post.

The Dutchman then put another good chance a foot wide after Parlour’s cross skidded across goal.

With five minutes left, the game erupted when Jaaskelainen was dismissed for bringing down Hasselbaink right on the very edge of the box.

That decision could have proved crucial as Hasselbaink blasted the free-kick too high – but deep into injury time Boateng grabbed the equaliser.

Downing kept the ball alive on the right, Parlour crashed in a shot which substitute keeper Kevin Poole could only parry upwards and Boateng slammed home the loose ball to spark wild celebrations.