Boateng matches Bolton bullies

Middlesbrough 1 Bolton Wanderers 1: A Christian so devout that he sometimes reads the Bible on trips to away grounds, George Boateng nevertheless separates his faith from his football. "The Bible teaches us to be loving and caring and peaceful but when I'm playing I need to be able to think tough," said the scorer of Middlesbrough's 93rd-minute equaliser

Such mental fortitude is never more necessary than when a team as big and bullying as Bolton are in town. No respecters of the meek, Sam Allardyce's side may not be easily shifted from fourth position and could soon be unofficially crowned the Premiership's most unpopular residents.

"Bolton are very difficult to play against," said Steve McClaren. "They are very effective at what they do but we showed tremendous character and self-control and it would have been a travesty if we'd lost."

It was fitting that Boateng earned his team a point because his goal - a fine volley after Kevin Poole had parried Ray Parlour's long-range shot into his path - capped a necessarily macho midfield performance.

Up against the impressive Gary Speed and the appreciably less polished but intimidating Kevin Nolan, Boateng held his own, helping ensure the service to Kevin Davies, Bolton's lone striker, was almost non-existent.

But then, much to the Riverside's collective chagrin, this was an afternoon largely about denial,with even Stewart Downing initially succumbing to the latter emotion being endlessly frustrated by Ricardo Gardner.

Bolton's Jamaican left-back is quick and aggressive and it was no surprise when, midway through the first half, McClaren relocated Downing to his preferred left flank, moving Bolo Zenden into central midfield and Ray Parlour out to the right.

Downing terrified Nicky Hunt and Parlour was not about to let himself be bullied by Gardner and clattered into his supposed minder with glee. The tide seemed to be turning.

But Bolton spend hours rehearsing set-plays and once again it paid off. Deriving from a corner taken by El Hadji Diouf and headed goalwards by Bruno N'Gotty, their lead was secured by Henrik Pedersen who supplied the final close-range touch to see the ball across the line.

Hasselbaink thought he had earned a late penalty when Jussi Jaaskelainen dashed off his line to send him crashing on the edge of the area. Although the referee sent Bolton's goalkeeper off, he only awarded a free-kick, wasted by Hasselbaink.

"If Jussi had stayed on our magnificent performance would have earned the three points," said Allardyce, who watched in horror as Boateng advanced to flash his volley past Poole.

If Don Mackay, Boro's chief scout, experienced mixed feelings at the normally shot-shy midfielder's second goal of the campaign it was understandable; Mackay has promised Boateng a case of Cristal champagne if he scores three by May. "I don't much like the taste of alcohol, though," said Boateng. "So I'll probably have to give it away."