Middlesbrough started the brighter with debutant Boudwijn Zenden, on loan from Chelsea and Jonathan Greening both testing Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal but after that it was the home side who started to dominate proceedings.
Bolton went in front on 22 minutes when Stelios Giannakopoulos right wing corner was met by the head of Kevin Davies who powered his header past Mark Schwarzer in the Boro goal, this was the former Southampton player's second goal in Wanderers colours and capped off a fine hard working performance from the striker.
However a few minutes later Florent Laville fell awkwardly in the centre circle with what looked like a knee injury and after a few minutes of receiving treatment the Frenchman was strechered off and replaced by countryman Bruno N'Gotty who himself was returning from a recent injury.
Boro could have got on level terms ten minutes before half time when Juninho combined well to allow striker Szilard Nemeth to break clear of the Bolton defence but Wanderers keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen defied the Boro player.
It was a game of a few bookings which where nothing more than niggles but the referee was once again inconsistent in his decisions but in the end it didnt matter.
The Teesiders introduced former Wanderers striker Michael Ricketts, who was countlessly jeered all afternoon by his former supporters but the Birmingham born forward could not find a way past a very organised Wanderers defence who seem to have been boosted by the presence of Emerson Thome.
Both Jay-Jay Okocha and Per Frandsen had free kicks blocked by the home side but the second goal came ten minutes from time when Stelios Giannakopoulos over head cross was met by substitute N'Gotty who headed the ball powerfully past Schwarzer.
Ex-Wanderer Ricketts, keen to make an impression was denied a consolation for Boro when his header in injury time fell straight into the arms of Finnish international Jaaskelainen who was rarely tested throughout.