Championship: Middlesbrough thrash Bolton to lay down marker to rivals

Boro's play was slick and incisive as they registered 31 shots at goal, 19 of which came in the first half alone. Of those 31, 12 were on target, with the 4.16 expected goals (xG) racked up by Kim Hellberg's side underlining the number and quality of chances they created.

They scored five, and it could have been more had it not been for a string of impressive saves by Bolton keeper Gavin Bazunu.

Former Bolton manager Keith Hill, working as a pundit for BBC Radio Manchester, spent no time criticising the performance of Steven Schumacher's men, and instead described their opposition as "special", and said they "worked like soldiers".

Hill told BBC Radio Manchester: "Their creative players are artists and so gifted, and I'd go as far as saying that they work harder than almost any other Championship squad.

"Middlesbrough were exceptional tonight, and if that is the bar in this league then they will finish in the top two.

"I think the Bolton staff, players and fans know they've been beaten by the best team in the Championship."

Middlesbrough's victory leaves them on 25 points after 12 games - the same tally they had at the equivalent time last season.

Boro were top of the table in early February last term after a run of six straight victories but Hellberg's side then won only four of their final 15 league games to finish fifth before going on to lose to Hull in the play-off final - but only after being reinstated when Southampton were expelled for spying.

However, former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison believes Boro hit new heights under their Swedish boss at Bolton, who had impressively beaten Wolves and drawn at Southampton in their two previous games.

"If you take away the Bolton goal at the end of the first half, that was a five-star performance, without a shadow of doubt," Maddison told BBC Radio Tees.

"It slowed down a little in the second half, but it was a mature display, and I would say that it was, without question, the best performance under Kim Hellberg."

And Maddison had special praise for player of the match Lankshear.

"Will Lankshear's movement was ridiculously good tonight, and he is a joy to watch," he added.

"In every game I've seen him in, he has learned to mix up how he plays. He's changing up his runs, coming deep, and he is getting better and better as the season goes on."