BOLTON found themselves on the end of a 5-1 hiding at the hands of Middlesbrough.

Mark Viduka scored twice while an own goal from Gary Speed, a header from Abel Xavier and a rare right-footed Stewart Downing strike completed the rout.

Kevin Nolan had given Bolton some hope but ElHadji Diouf 's red card left the visitors an impossible task.

Yet despite the eventual outcome it was Sam Allardyce's side who started the brighter, fashioning a chance within a minute when Kevin Davies - whose new contract was announced shortly before kick-off - headed on a long throw for Nicolas Anelka to volley over the bar.

Mark Schwarzer was then forced to turn aside Gary Speed's low drive as Bolton continued to set the pace.

They were then completely sucker-punched as Middlesbrough scored twice by the 10 minutes had elapsed.

The first came in the fifth minute thanks to a Speed own goal. Xavier took the Boro congratulations after he climbed to head Stewart Downing's free-kick against the foot of the post, the ball then rebounding off Speed's leg and trickling agonisingly past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The second couldn't be taken away from Xavier as he struck again moments later. Some uncharacteristically poor defending by Bolton led to Downing picking up possession and he then left Nolan flat-footed before picking out Xavier.

The unmarked Portuguese defender sent a header floating over Jaaskelainen into the top corner.

Xavier celebrated in some style, racing to exchange high fives with Southgate before climbing into the players' bench area to receive hugs from the substitutes.

With confidence oozing from every pore, Middlesbrough continued to push back Bolton and Mark Viduka nearly wriggled through the entire defence only for Jaaskelainen to make a lastgasp clearance.

Middlesbrough then went 3-0 up in the 23rd minute with Downing the creator for the third time. With the outside of his foot, the England left-winger sent a superb cross to the far-post for Viduka to steal in and volley home from close range.

It could have been game over by half-time had Nolan not given Bolton some hope by pulling one back only a minute later. Ivan Campo's long throw again caused problems and this time Davies laid the ball back for Nolan to sidefoot in from the edge of the area.

Still Boro kept attacking though and Aiyegbeni Yakubu sent a shot rolling the wrong side of the post after holding off Abdoulaye Meite.

The Nigerian striker was proving a real handful and rattled a shot an inch wide after some tremendous play by Viduka created a shooting opportunity.

Jaaskelainen then made a brave save at the feet of Viduka after his flap appeared to hand the Australian a goal on a plate.

Two minutes before the break Downing effectively sealed the game with a wonderful strike to make it 4-1.

Fed by Boateng, the 22-yearold cut inside and, as the Bolton defence stood off, unleashed a right-footed shot that whistled into the back of the net.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce tried to limit Downing's influence at the break by bringing on Ricardo Gardner for Hunt and switching Tal Ben Haim to right-back, though it looked as though that particular horse had already bolted.

Not surprisingly, Middlesbrough opted to sit on their lead and make life tough for Bolton and soon the opportunity-laden first half became just a pleasant memory.

There were still occasional chances though. Downing blasted over a 25-yard freekick before, at the other end, Davies was left frustrated after failing to get on the end of El Hadji Diouf 's free-kick.

Yakubu should also have done much better when he fired wide after being put through by Viduka's backheel.

Bolton's uphill task became mountainous when Diouf was sent off in the 66th minute for swearing at referee Alan Wiley. Allardyce looked furious - and his mood would not have been improved by the Boro fans bursting in to a chorus of "He's going to whinge on the telly".

Davies picked up a yellow card for a lunge at Julio Arca and with six minutes remaining Viduka piled on the agony with Boro's fifth.

Lee Cattermole provided the opening after beating Gardner down the right and Viduka, having made space for himself to receive the ball, finished with aplomb for his sixth goal in five games.

Gardner tried to make amends with a fierce firsttime strike but Schwarzer was equal to it.