If Diego Forlan's decision to choose Manchester United over the Riverside caused Middlesbrough pain, the way they squandered victory against Bolton rubbed salt in the wound.

Steve McClaren knows better than anyone the desperate need for a top-class striker, and there can have been no better demonstration of why the Uruguayan's decision may prove costly to Boro.

The home side could have been 3-0 up at half-time and McClaren's only solace is that they could have ended up losing as it was Bolton who finished the stronger. Boro are now in the bottom three and a relegation scrap awaits.

Noel Whelan had put Middlesbrough in front in the 38th minute, though he had earlier spurned one, if not two, chances that were easier.

The pattern of Middlesbrough's domination continued until Bolton boss Sam Allardyce changed his system with half-an-hour remaining and brought on Bo Hansen. That caused an immediate change of emphasis culminating in the substitute equalising with a glorious volley.

That had hardly looked a possibility from the start when Slovakian striker Szilard Nemeth strode down the right onto Carlos Marinelli's pass and pulled the ball back for Whelan, who scuffed his shot wide from a great position.

Marinelli caught the eye from kick-off and one piece of trickery to outwit Ricardo Gardner and Simon Charlton on the left touchline was breathtaking.

He was the instigator again, picking out Allan Johnston with a delightful cross-field pass after which the Scot beat Nicky Southall but blasted his shot high into the crowd.

Boro continued to have the best chances and Whelan hit the side-netting after beating the offside trap before Nemeth struck a volley that drew 'oohs' from the crowd but soared away from goal.

After half-an-hour Bolton finally created an opportunity when Kevin Nolan's ball was missed by Ugo Ehiogu and Ricketts was on to the ball in a flash to drill a rising, curling shot that Crossley did well to tip over.

Boro went in front in the 38th minute after a scrap in the goalmouth. Marinelli's free-kick was half-cleared to Johnston and he lobbed in an up and under which fell to Whelan as Bolton's defenders panicked.

The striker took one touch to set the ball up and then hammered in a rising shot that Jussi Jaaskelainen should have done better with than merely palm it into the roof of the net.

It should have been 2-0 two minutes before the break after the best passing move of the match. Marinelli surged inside and found Nemeth whose pass inside the full-back was perfect for the overlapping Robbie Stockdale, but he slid his shot wide of the far post.

Whelan hit the side-netting again in the first minute of the second half, with a left-foot volley from 10 yards.

Paul Ince then struck a fierce effort from 30 yards after a Marinelli lay-off that thumped into Jaaskelainen's stomach, but the Finn held on with Whelan ready to pounce on the loose ball.

Allardyce had to gamble, and with half-an-hour remaining he threw on Hansen in place of Charlton, Gardner dropping to right wing-back.

It was no coincidence that Bolton immediately improved and Bergsson, up for a free-kick, fired in a shot which was heading for the net until it struck Ricketts.

In the 74th minute, Hansen stunned Boro by equalising, and doing so in quite sensational style. Anthony Barness swung in a free-kick from the halfway line, Bergsson won an important header and Hansen walloped a volley into the top corner.

Bobic cursed himself for not putting away a header and Ricketts was next to have his head in his hands, after he held off Ehiogu brilliantly and had a clear sight of goal but blazed a volley over.

Boro finished strongly when Bergsson blocked Ince's goalbound drive, and Bruno N'Gotty then repeated the heroics to deny Dean Windass, but the future does not look bright.

Teams:

Middlesbrough: Crossley, Stockdale, Southgate, Ehiogu, Queudrue (Cooper 39), Marinelli, Ince, Greening, Johnston (Mustoe 72), Whelan, Nemeth (Windass 60).

Subs Not Used: Ricard, Jones.

Booked: Marinelli.

Goals: Whelan 38.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Southall, N'Gotty, Bergsson, Charlton (Hansen 59), Frandsen (Barness 21), Nolan, Farrelly, Ricketts, Gardner, Bobic (Pedersen 84).

Subs Not Used: Johnson, Poole.

Booked: Bobic.

Goals: Hansen 73.

Att: 26,104

Ref: G Poll (Tring).