Kim Hellberg has reflected on his Middlesbrough side’s 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers
Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg was delighted with the way his players found ways to circumvent Bolton Wanderers in their emphatic 5-1 win.
Bolton have proven to be tricky customers of late but were blown away on home turf at the Toughsheet Community Stadium last night (October 23).
Aidan Morris opened the scoring and the lead was extended by a Will Lankshear effort and a Lewis Brunt own goal. Theo Bair managed to pull one back for the Trotters, but ex-Bolton star Amario Cozier-Duberry then found the target and Lankshear notched his second of the evening.
Kim Hellberg salutes Middlesbrough players
Bolton play with a high line and Hellberg saluted his players for managing to get the better of it so frequently.
He said: “It will be a nice Saturday and Sunday. It was a good game and maybe over 90 minutes, in both halves, it was very strong.
“We talked about Bolton’s high line which they have been successful with. So, we tried to beat that in different ways. My players were exceptional finding spaces, running in behind and scoring some beautiful goals.
“You never want to concede a goal. There was a feeling of them giving up but they get the goal and pump themselves up for the first 15 minutes [of the second half].
“However, we managed that well which was a step forward for us. We wanted to keep a clean sheet but if we score five then I take it.”
The Bolton Wanderers view
Bolton were outclassed and their manager Steven Schumacher conceded there was a “gulf in class”.
He said: “There was a gulf in class which was evident. But to say that for the first time in 12 games is respectable. We have been in every game but tonight we were up against a better side. It was a tough night and difficult game. But we knew that before the start.
“Hopefully one day we can get to the level of players they have. There is a gulf between the clubs right now and one day we hope to close it if we can.
“We could have been 1-0, get one on one with the goal but miss the chance. And then 26 seconds later we were 1-0 down.
“After that you could see their confidence growing. We gave ourselves a lifeline and for the first 15 minutes of the second, we were in with a chance.
“But it was a punishing night because they were on top form. But we won’t dwell on it because in this league anything can happen.”