Bolton are still without a league win this season after they were outclassed by Middlesbrough at the Macron this afternoon.
Adama Traore`s pace and trickery was key for the opposition as he set up Britt Assombalonga not once, but twice, a goal in each half. With the game pretty much won from there, Marvin Johnson added a third to rub salt into Wanderers wounds.
It was a day that saw the changes wrung. After calls for Phil Parkinson to change the formation from the 3-5-2 used last season, and so far this, there was a switch to a 4-1-4-1, with a number of personnel changes, most not coming off quite frankly. Ben Alnwick replaced Mark Howard in goal, and ended up letting the third goal squirm under him, while Stephen Darby started at right-back but would disappear at half-time, replaced by Reece Burke, who was probably one of the least deserving to drop his place.
Antonee Robinson was tormented by Traore, who had the better of him for most of the day, but in fairness neither he nor Andy Taylor will come up against many better opponents this season.
Despite Derik coming in, the midfield struggled to compete again, Jem Karacan and Darren Pratley continued their poor starts to the season, and the absence of Jay Spearing seems to hurt more by the week.
Can we have positives? I`ve seen worse debuts than that of Craig Noone, who at least seemed to show up, while the same can be said of Gary Madine. But the lack of a win must come soon. Hopefully, it`ll come in one of the next two home games, against Sheffield United or Brentford.
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