Middlesbrough - 2 Bolton - 1 (aet, 1-1 after 90 mins)
Craig Hignett was Middlesbrough's extra-time hero as they moved into the quarter-final of the English League Cup. The former Crewe star fired home an 125th minute winner, through the legs of goalkeeper Keith Branagan, after a Paul Merson cross reached him at the far post.
In this tension-riddled fourth round tie, Bolton had midfielder Per Frandsen dismissed by referee Stephen Lodge of Barnsley.
But while both sides were guilty of indiscipline, with seven others booked, the standard of football at the Riverside Stadium was poor.
The home side had the better chances, with centre forward Mikkel Beck guilty of a number of missed opportunities.
Bolton boss Colin Todd recalled former Newcastle player Scott Sellars, as his Premiership suspension did not stop the 31-year-old midfielder from playing in the cup. But they were without record signing Dean Holdsworth who was cup-tied.
If Middlesbrough looked a pale shadow of the side which played so well at Norwich at the weekend, the visitors were no better. Not even the hard-working Peter Beardsley could seem to find any touch.
Alan Thompson finally tested home goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with a fine far-post effort as he stretched to meet a deep cross from Jamie Pollock on the right.
Thompson then gave Bolton the lead when Middlesbrough failed to clear a right wing corner and the 23-year-old fired home coolly from the edge of the box, wrong-footing the goalkeeper.
It took the home side six minutes to equalise through young midfielder Mark Summerbell; the 21-year-old scored his first senior goal after some intense pressure on the Wanderers goal. His final effort, from 14 yards, took a clear deflection off Pollock as it looped over Keith Branagan and into the net.
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Maddison, Harrison (Ormerod 85), Vickers, Festa, Emerson, Hignett, Summerbell, Beck, Merson, Campbell (Baker 95). Subs Not Used: Fabio. Booked: Festa, Beck. Goals: Hignett 115, Summerbell 39.
Bolton: Branagan, Bergsson, Whitlow, Fish, Todd, Pollock (Johansen 80), Frandsen, Thompson, Sellars (Gunnlaugsson 118), Blake, Beardsley. Subs Not Used: Ward. Sent off: Frandsen (70). Booked: Todd, Pollock, Blake, Thompson. Goals: Thompson 33.
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).
