Middlesbrough have recorded a slender 2-1 half-time lead over Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium this afternoon.
Boro started much the better of the two sides and it was not long before Aitor Karanka's men boasted the advantage.
Mustapha Carayol received a cute back-heel from strike partner Curtis Main, before firing a first-time effort past Andy Lonergan from 20 yards out after nine minutes.
Chris Eagles nearly provided a swift riposte by volleying narrowly wide of Shay Given's post two minutes later, before the visitors managed to double their advantage in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.
Main capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Lonergan and Zat Knight and slotted into an empty net to strengthen his team's grip on the match.
The second seemed to have been the wake-up call that Dougie Freedman's troops needed, and the Trotters soon reduced the deficit when Alex Baptiste curled his effort beyond the reach of Given.
The hosts finished the half the stronger in their quest for parity but the whistle came too soon for Freedman and Co.
Shane Callaghan
