Match Review: Bolton 1 Boro 3

A Boro late show ensured Carabao Cup progression at the expense of Bolton Wanderers.

Having dominated the game since Matt Crooks conjured up a first-half equaliser, it wasn't until stoppage time that Boro's superiority paid dividends when both Riley McGree and Morgan Rogers scored delightful goals to book Michael Carrick's men a place in the third round of the competition.

It was a scrappy opening to proceedings, and it wasn’t until Bolton opened the scoring midway through the first half that either side had a shot at goal.

Dion Charles was the scorer when he applied the finishing touch after Tom Glover had parried a shot on goal after some good play by the home side.

It was honours even shortly after the half-hour mark when Paddy McNair picked out Crooks with a delightful pass and the Boro man finished with aplomb to level matters.

Crooks was involved again before half-time as Boro looked to take the lead. He squared the ball after a nice touch from Isaiah Jones, but goalkeeper Joel Coleman smothered the ball at the feet of Marcus Forss.

Coleman was also called into action to deny Hayden Hackney during first half stoppage time as Boro started to dictate proceedings.

Hackney had the first attempt of the second period when he fired over the bar, although play could have been halted before his strike when Jones was bundled over but advantage was played.

Both Jones and Crooks whipped decent balls into the danger zone, and McNair had one hacked clear by a Bolton defender when he followed suit. Forss also had a ball across the face of goal cleared as Boro started to pile the pressure on the home side.

That proved to be Forss’ last action of the night with Sammy Silvera coming on for the final 18 minutes.

Jones was next to go close when he cut inside from the left to work himself an opening, but his shot was over the top.

Silvera had a shot deflected wide and Hackney forced a save from Nathan Baxter from a tight angle as Boro continued to dominate.

Baxter again had to react well to deny Silvera after more good play by Boro while McNair shot into the side netting.

Rogers, McGree and Josh Coburn were all introduced for the final moments as Boro looked to turn dominance into a match-winning goal.

McNair almost delivered that in the 90^th minute with a shot which was deflected on to the bar, but the winner wasn’t much longer in coming.

It was McGree who settled matters with an absolute beauty of strike in front of the 3000 travelling fans, and if that wasn't enough, fellow sub Rogers added a third goal four minutes into stoppage time.