Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren saw his team put up the shutters against in-form Bolton in a confidence-boosting performance ahead of the UEFA Cup game against Grazer AK next week.

Chris Riggott returned to the side and formed a solid partnership at the back with captain Gareth Southgate while goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer proved to be a formidable barrier.

In fact had Joseph-Desire Job taken a clear chance in the second minute they could have taken all three points.

As it was they ended Bolton's remarkable run of seven straight victories, five of them in the league.

Job's blunder came following a long clearance from Schwarzer. The striker was left in the clear but somehow dragged his shot from six yards wide of the post.

It was a let-off for Bolton in difficult conditions with the wind swirling around the ground.

There was another worrying moment for the home side in the fifth minute when Ivan Campo nearly deflected a cross from James Morrison past his own goalkeeper.

Middlesbrough hit back on the counter-attack after 11 minutes but goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen stood tall to save Hasselbaink's effort after good work by Job.

Bolton came within inches of taking the lead in the 15th minute when a shot from Kevin Nolan beat Schwarzer but came back off the bar.

Davies latched on to the rebound but the goalkeeper managed to smother the ball at the second attempt.

Bolton were growing in confidence and Stelios Giannakopoulos tried unsuccessfully to curl his effort into the corner when Nolan was in a better position in the area.

Davies then tried to release Jay-Jay Okocha, who had raced forward, but the pass was over-hit and the chance lost.

Schwarzer reacted superbly in the 31st minute to prevent his side going behind. He managed to tip away a 25-yard piledriver from Anthony Barness after he had been set up by Davies.

Barness was only in the side because Nicky Hunt was injured - and is available for transfer - but he was playing with plenty of confidence.

Okocha was showing no ill-effects from his recent knee injury after having a run in the reserves at the beginning of the week. He looked keen and hungry with Bolton beginning to dominate as the first half came to an end.

Middlesbrough were finding it a little bit of a struggle to regain their rhythm and a bright start.

Jaaskelainen was having little to do in the home goal although he knew he could not take his eye off Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Bolton began the second half at pace and Ricardo Gardner sent a low ball fizzing across the area but Nolan was unable to make the vital touch.

The home side made their first change in the 52nd minute when El-Hadji Diouf came on for Giannakopoulos. Diouf, on loan from Liverpool, was looking to add to his six-goal tally for Bolton.

Okocha stung the hands of Schwarzer after 56 minutes with a powerful drive after being released by Gardner.

Job was again wasteful for Middlesbrough in the 60th minute when he fired a shot wide after being set up by Hasselbaink following a mistake by Gardner.

Both sides had to be applauded for trying to get the ball down despite the despite the difficult conditions.

Okocha then stabbed a shot wide in the 64th minute when Gardner swept the ball in from the right.

Although Middlesbrough were playing some good stuff, Hasselbaink was finding himself starved of quality service.

Job was eventually replaced in the 68th minute by Szilard Nemeth in an attempt to make the breakthrough.

Bolton defender Gardner peeled away from his marker in the 75th minute but directed his header wide following a free kick from Gary Speed.

Former Wales midfielder Speed almost made the breakthrough after 83 minutes when his first time effort from Okocha's pass went narrowly wide of the post.

Middlesbrough responded in the 87th minute when Hasselbaink found himself in a good position but Jaaskelainen took the ball off his toes.

Then Schwarzer made a marvellous point-blank save from Okocha on the stroke of full time to salvage a point for Middlesbrough.

Teams

Bolton Jaaskelainen, Barness, N'Gotty, Ben Haim, Gardner, Nolan, Campo (Vaz Te 81), Okocha, Speed, Giannakopoulos (Diouf 53), Davies.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Hierro, Candela.

Middlesbrough Schwarzer, Reiziger, Riggott, Southgate, Queudrue, Morrison, Parnaby, Doriva, Downing, Job (Nemeth 67), Hasselbaink.

Subs Not Used: Nash, Bates, McMahon, Graham.

Booked: Morrison.

Att: 24,322

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).