Middlesbrough visit Bolton Wanderers on Friday evening hoping to continue their strong form, sitting first in the Championship on 25 points after 12 games. The game at the Toughsheet Community Stadium starts at 20:00 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Managed by Kim Hellberg, the league leaders are in excellent shape. They have not lost in several matches, a sequence featuring a heavy win over Bolton recently. That victory increased their advantage over Bolton to a significant margin, now an 11-point lead at the top.
Recent Form and Results
Middlesbrough's determination has been key for their campaign. In their most recent league matches, they have secured several victories and draws, with a recent form of three wins and two draws from their last five games, leaving them unbeaten in the last five. Their last result was a 5-1 victory over Bolton on Friday 23 October, where Will Lankshear scored twice and Amario Cozier-Duberry also found the net. This followed a 2-2 draw with Cardiff on Saturday 17 October, in which Tommy Conway and Lankshear were on the scoresheet. The team has scored 27 goals this season while conceding 17. Leading marksman Will Lankshear, the division's top scorer with 11 goals this season in 12 appearances, scored a couple of times in the last match, with Amario Cozier-Duberry also finding the net. Under Steven Schumacher, Bolton's results have varied, with a mix of wins, a draw, and a loss in their previous five games.
Team News and Line-ups
Bolton manager Steven Schumacher has brought Ethan Erhahon, Kyliane Dong, Ruben Rodrigues and Thelonius Bair back into his starting team after the weekend's draw. Middlesbrough's selected team features ex-Bolton loan player Amario Cozier-Duberry and the division's leading scorer Will Lankshear. The teams are as follows: Bolton: Bazunu, Brunt, Dong, Sheehan, Bair, Gale, Famewo, Toal, Rodrigues, Erhahon, Larrazabal. Substitutes: Bonham, Simons, Davies, Dalby, Iling-Junior, Ito, Conway, Stephenson, Hardie. Middlesbrough: Vitek, Brittain, Phillips, Berhalter, Lankshear, McGree, Conway, Morris, Cozier-Duberry, Malanda, Borges. Substitutes: Brynn, Byram, Ayling, Peart-Harris, Sarmiento, Arfsten, Barron, Castledine, Joseph.
Steven Schumacher stated: "Boss Steven Schumacher recalls Ethan Erhahon, Kyliane Dong, Ruben Rodrigues and Thelonius Bair following last Saturday’s draw at Southampton." This match offers Bolton an opportunity to test themselves against the top team at home. Middlesbrough's following game is at home to Charlton on Saturday 31 October.
More detail at Bolton Wanderers FC
