Substitute Scott McDonald scored both goals as Middlesbrough came from a goal behind to overhaul Bolton and win their fourth successive league game.

The Australian, on for Marvin Emnes, stabbed in his first after goalkeeper Adam Bogdan spilled the ball.

A powerful header from Emmanuel Ledesma's cross in the final 10 minutes completed Boro's comeback.

Chung-Yong Lee's clever finish had earlier given Bolton the lead, but the hosts were always on top.

Tony Mowbray's side remain third, but only on goal difference after leaders Leicester slipped to defeat against Crystal Palace and it was a game that will have fuelled promotion hopes on Teesside - as well as underlining the task facing Bolton's new manager Dougie Freedman.

The Scot, who watched from the stands before he officially takes over on Monday, saw a powerful Chris Eagles strike go close in the opening two minutes for the Trotters, but his side were mostly penned back before Chung-Young struck against the run of play in the 43rd minute.

The South Korean's lofted shot over Jason Steele gave the visitors an undeserved half-time lead, but McDonald pounced to equalise after Bogdan spilled Ishmael Miller's angled drive.

McDonald nodded wide and his side had a penalty claim waved away when the ball appeared to hit Sam Ricketts on the arm.

The winner finally arrived in the 85th minute as McDonald worked his way free of markers in the box and headed in, to the delight of the home fans.

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray:

"I was pleased at half-time despite the Bolton goal because of the application, the attitude and the chances we had created.

"I was even more pleased because the atmosphere in the dressing room at half-time was very positive.

"We all felt that if we could create and score the next goal then we could go on and win it and so it proved.

"We worked very hard to overcome the adversity in going a goal down and we bounced back and got the job done."

Bolton caretaker manager Jimmy Phillips:

"It is not my place to advise Dougie Freedman on what he needs to do but I will say he has a good squad here to work with.

"The 'goals against' column needs addressing, we know that. We need to be stronger at the back and we are creating chances but maybe need to be a bit more ruthless and mentally tough in front of goal."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Middlesbrough

  • 01 Steele
  • 03 Amougou
  • 04 Friend
  • 15 Hines
  • 21 Parnaby
  • 07 Leadbitter
  • 16 McEachran (Halliday - 87' )
  • 25 Reach (Ledesma - 46' )
  • 38 Haroun
  • 09 Emnes (McDonald - 22' )
  • 30 Miller

Substitutes

  • 32 Leutwiler
  • 02 Hoyte
  • 10 Bailey
  • 18 Halliday
  • 33 Smallwood
  • 11 Ledesma
  • 27 McDonald

Bolton Wanderers

  • 01 Bogdan
  • 02 Mears (Ngog - 87' )
  • 05 Ream
  • 15 Warnock
  • 18 Ricketts
  • 07 Eagles Booked
  • 10 Petrov (Afobe - 65' )
  • 16 M Davies (Pratley - 77' )
  • 20 Spearing
  • 27 Lee
  • 14 K Davies Booked

Substitutes

  • 34 Lynch
  • 04 Mills
  • 23 Riley
  • 08 Andrews
  • 21 Pratley
  • 09 Ngog
  • 17 Afobe
Ref: Sutton
Att: 16,200

Match Stats

Shots

18 11

On target

9 3

Corners

5 1

Fouls

11 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:09 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott McDonald by Jay Spearing. Emmanuel Ledesma takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +0:26

Jay Spearing fouled by Emmanuel Ledesma, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Eagles takes the free kick.

89:50

Grant Leadbitter gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Eagles. Direct free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

89:14

Grant Leadbitter fouled by David Ngog, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jason Steele.

87:43

Scott McDonald is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

86:08

Free kick taken by Stuart Parnaby.

86:08 Substitution

Substitution (Bolton) makes a substitution, with David Ngog coming on for Tyrone Mears.

86:08 Substitution

Substitution Andrew Halliday is brought on as a substitute for Josh McEachran.

86:08

Unfair challenge on Emmanuel Ledesma by Kevin Davies results in a free kick.

84:09

Emmanuel Ledesma provided the assist for the goal.

84:09 Goal scored

Goal - Scott McDonald - Middlesbro 2 - 1 Bolton Scott McDonald scores a headed goal from inside the area. Middlesbrough 2-1 Bolton.

83:58

Emmanuel Ledesma delivers the ball,

83:04

Emmanuel Ledesma crosses the ball, Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Faris Haroun goes wide of the right-hand upright.

80:59

Chris Eagles fouled by Stuart Parnaby, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Stephen Warnock.

79:47

Chris Eagles takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

76:45 Substitution

Substitution Darren Pratley joins the action as a substitute, replacing Mark Davies.

75:46

George Friend produces a cross, clearance made by Tyrone Mears.

72:40

The ball is crossed by Emmanuel Ledesma, Jay Spearing makes a clearance.

72:34

The ball is crossed by Scott McDonald, clearance made by Stephen Warnock.

72:18

Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Jay Spearing gets a block in.

71:48

Scott McDonald takes a shot. Tyrone Mears gets a block in.

70:19

Faris Haroun produces a cross, Scott McDonald produces a header from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

67:51

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Eagles, clearance by Andre Bikey.

67:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott McDonald on Mark Davies. Tim Ream takes the free kick.

66:08

Assist by Ishmael Miller.

66:08 Goal scored

Goal - Scott McDonald - Middlesbro 1 - 1 Bolton Scott McDonald gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 1-1 Bolton.

65:44

Ishmael Miller takes a shot. Save by Adam Bogdan.

64:52

Foul by Grant Leadbitter on Mark Davies, free kick awarded. Adam Bogdan restarts play with the free kick.

63:52 Substitution

Substitution (Bolton) makes a substitution, with Benik Afobe coming on for Martin Petrov.

63:52

Effort on goal by Chris Eagles from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

62:55

Shot by Ishmael Miller from 18 yards. Blocked by Tim Ream. Inswinging corner taken by Emmanuel Ledesma from the right by-line, Adam Bogdan makes a save.

60:14

The assistant referee signals for offside against Faris Haroun. Adam Bogdan restarts play with the free kick.

58:51

Stuart Parnaby sends in a cross, Tim Ream makes a clearance.

57:45

Centre by Emmanuel Ledesma.

57:23

The ball is delivered by Martin Petrov, clearance by George Friend.

55:56

George Friend sends in a cross, Foul by Ishmael Miller on Stephen Warnock, free kick awarded. Adam Bogdan takes the free kick.

53:01

Unfair challenge on Chris Eagles by Grant Leadbitter results in a free kick. Chris Eagles shoots direct from the free kick.

51:42

The ball is crossed by Andre Bikey.

51:22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jay Spearing on Ishmael Miller. Grant Leadbitter restarts play with the free kick.

49:18

The ball is sent over by Emmanuel Ledesma, clearance made by Kevin Davies.

46:36

Stephen Warnock produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Emmanuel Ledesma on for Adam Reach.

45:00 +2:09 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +1:48

Effort from the edge of the box by Kevin Davies goes wide of the right-hand upright.

45:00 +0:20

Chung-Yong Lee takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

43:49

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Grant Leadbitter by Chris Eagles. Stuart Parnaby takes the direct free kick.

43:01

Effort from the edge of the box by Ishmael Miller goes wide of the right-hand upright.

41:20 Goal scored

Goal - Chung-Yong Lee - Middlesbro 0 - 1 Bolton Chung-Yong Lee fires in a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 0-1 Bolton.

40:20

The ball is delivered by Tyrone Mears.

38:50

Mark Davies produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

38:19

Ishmael Miller takes a shot. Adam Bogdan makes a save.

36:06 Booking

Booking Chris Eagles is cautioned.

35:26

Martin Petrov sends in a cross, Stuart Parnaby gets a block in.

33:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Samuel Ricketts by Scott McDonald. Jay Spearing restarts play with the free kick.

33:02

The ball is delivered by Adam Reach, clearance by Kevin Davies.

32:49

Scott McDonald crosses the ball, Kevin Davies manages to make a clearance.

31:36

Ishmael Miller has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

31:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Faris Haroun by Chung-Yong Lee. Direct free kick taken by Grant Leadbitter.

29:24

Jason Steele restarts play with the free kick.

29:24 Booking

Booking Kevin Davies receives a yellow card.

29:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin Davies on Seb Hines.

28:31

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

27:54

Martin Petrov sends in a cross, clearance made by Andre Bikey.

26:24

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Grant Leadbitter from the left by-line to the near post, save by Adam Bogdan.

26:10

Faris Haroun delivers the ball, Samuel Ricketts makes a clearance.

25:25

Stephen Warnock handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Grant Leadbitter.

24:30

Faris Haroun crosses the ball, Adam Reach produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

24:02

Scott McDonald is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Tim Ream.

20:41 Substitution

Substitution Marvin Emnes goes off and Scott McDonald comes on.

20:41

The ball is delivered by Jay Spearing, Seb Hines makes a clearance. Samuel Ricketts takes a shot. Save made by Jason Steele. Chris Eagles delivers the ball, clearance by Andre Bikey.

20:05

Unfair challenge on Kevin Davies by Seb Hines results in a free kick. Chris Eagles takes the free kick.

18:57

The ball is swung over by Martin Petrov, clearance by Stuart Parnaby.

17:53

Chris Eagles takes a shot. Blocked by Andre Bikey.

16:54

A cross is delivered by Chung-Yong Lee, Seb Hines manages to make a clearance.

12:22

Marvin Emnes takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save made by Adam Bogdan. Corner from the right by-line taken by Josh McEachran, clearance made by Stephen Warnock.

11:30

Faris Haroun gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Eagles. Chris Eagles takes the direct free kick.

10:46

Corner from right by-line taken by Adam Reach.

10:02

Marvin Emnes produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

9:10

The ball is delivered by George Friend, Close range headed effort by Ishmael Miller misses to the right of the target.

8:44

Centre by Adam Reach, Samuel Ricketts manages to make a clearance.

7:04

Marvin Emnes produces a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Seb Hines misses to the right of the target.

6:29

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Grant Leadbitter from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Tyrone Mears.

6:29

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Grant Leadbitter played to the near post, clearance made by Tyrone Mears.

6:18

Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Save by Adam Bogdan.

5:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chung-Yong Lee by Seb Hines. Free kick taken by Chris Eagles.

2:55

Chris Eagles produces a right-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar.

0:56

Ishmael Miller has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.

0:00

The match gets underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association