Gavin McCann snatched a dramatic winner as Bolton kept alive their hopes of escaping relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

The former Sunderland midfielder had been lucky not to concede a penalty for handball just moments before he stabbed home from close range with 59 minutes gone.

The result, which had seemed unlikely as Boro ran the visitors ragged in the opening 10 minutes, was enough to lift the Trotters out of the bottom three.

Up front where manager Gareth Southgate made a statement of intent, starting with Jeremie Aliadiere, Afonso Alves and Tuncay.

It was an attacking line-up designed to allay fears Boro had little to play for, and it was clear from the outset the hosts wanted to entertain.

Bolton were fortunate to get through the opening 10 minutes unscathed as Boro threw everything at their shaky back line.

Goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi was straight into the action, tipping over a David Wheater volley from a Stewart Downing corner in the second minute.

Downing then fired narrowly over himself and Oman international Al Habsi needed to be alert again when Aliadiere raced into the box and set up Tuncay.

Bolton seemed at sixes and sevens as Andrew Taylor and Alves also shot over in Boro's breathless opening.

But the goal never came and Bolton stole it just before the hour.