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.”
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