After the frustration of the home defeat to Leeds on Saturday, Boro will be looking to get back to winning ways tonight.
Neil Lennon has a selection headache ahead of the trip to the Riverside with Bolton's injury woes piling up.
And the Trotters are looking to arrest an alarming slide after winning just one of their last six Championship games.
Despite the defeat to Leeds, Boro are still in the top two in the Championship due to Bournemouth and Ipswich both dropping points at the weekend.
Here's all you need to know ahead of tonight's clash in our matchfile:
Probable line-ups
Likely line-ups: Middlesbrough vs Bolton
Injury news
Speedy winger Mustapha Carayol returns to the Boro squad for the first time since March after building up his fitness following a cruciate injury with the reserves.
Dimi Konstantopoulos looks set to go straight back in goal after serving a one-match ban.
But Boro’s Belgian striker Jelle Vossen will miss out after being stretchered off with concussion in Saturday’s defeat to Leeds.
Bolton will have to make at least four changes with Andy Lonergan, Tim Ream and Filip Twardzik crocked, and skipper Matt Mills is suspended.
The thoughts of the boss
“Our performance on Saturday was good, especially in the first half, and I want us to play the same way against Bolton.
“We had a lot of chances against Leeds and I felt if one went in the second would be easier to score. I am very pleased with our performance, the attitude was very good.
“It will be a tough game tonight. Bolton lost 4-1 on Saturday and I think it was a bad defeat for them so they will come here and try to forget that result as soon as possible.
“People enjoyed our games against Manchester City and Arsenal but they were two additional games that were demanding physically and mentally.
“Now we have four games in two weeks and we have to look forward to playing Bolton. We have to play with our usual consistency, style and with the same intensity."
Opposition's view
Bolton boss Neil Lennon is expecting to get a reaction from his players at the Riverside after slating their performance in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
“The level of performance wasn’t ideal,” Lennon said in his pre-match press conference.
“The lads asked me on Monday morning if they think we will get a reaction from Middlesbrough after losing.
“Well I’m hoping for a reaction from my players and I’m sure I’ll get one. We played really well against Watford, and then they were a different team on Saturday. So we have to find why there is an inconsistency all of a sudden.”
Their man in the know - Dave Pye, The Bolton News
Bolton's injury pile-up isn’t helping their form.
They lost another three at the weekend and had skipper Matt Mills sent off on his comeback as well.
They haven’t really had chance to field a settled side and Mills is an example of that as he had missed the previous three games before Forest.
The side is conceding goals and you can’t say it’s down to tactics. The manager played three at the back and got a 0-0 draw at Liverpool, then stuck with it at Rotherham and they lost 4-2.
Who's the dangerman?
Winger Liam Feeney has been a bright spark for Bolton despite their recent struggles.
The wide man is a real favourite of manager Neil Lennon and has played the full 90 minutes in more than 10 consecutive games.
Feeney is a proper old school wide man with raw pace - he hits the byline and whips crosses over.
Despite being predominantly right-footed, the 28-year-old can play on either flank.
Feeney set up all three Trotters goals in their recent 4-3 home defeat to Watford, and Boro will need to cut out his crosses as Bolton striker Adam Le Fondre has scored three goals in three goals in their last three games
What's the form?
Saturday's frustrating home defeat to Leeds meant Boro missed out on the chance to go four points clear at the top of the Championship.
Alex Mowatt’s early deflected goal ended their nine-match unbeaten league run as they were replaced at the summit by Derby.
Boro dominated for long periods after falling behind but found Leeds keeper Marco Silvestri in inspired form.
They can return to top spot if they beat Bolton tonight though and the Rams taste defeat at home to mid-table Charlton.
Boro’s success has been built around a rock-solid defence, but they haven’t managed one in five matches this month and have let in a couple of soft goals of late.
They could do with rediscovering their goal touch as well after scoring only once in the last three games.
Bolton looked like possible promotion candidates a month ago under Neil Lennon, but they are now looking more like relegation outsiders after sliding down the Championship table.
The former Celtic manager whipped Wanderers into shape after inheriting a bottom three side when he took over in October.
But they are now back down in 18th, just six points clear of the relegation zone following a bleak run of form.
Since taking Liverpool to an FA Cup replay they ultimately lost, the Trotters have taken just three points in four games and leaked 13 goals.
Lennon had a “clear the air” talk with his team after Saturday’s 4-1 fiasco at Nottingham Forest.
BORO’S LAST FIVE
Feb 21 (h) LEEDS L 0-1
Feb 18 (a) BIRMINGHAM D 1-1
Feb 15 (a) ARSENAL L 0-2 FAC
Feb 10 (a) BLACKPOOL W 2-1
Feb 7 (h) CHARLTON W 3-1
Last five homes: 0-1, 3-1, 2-1, 2-0, 3-0
BOLTON’S LAST FIVE
Feb 21 (a) NOTTS FOREST L 1-4
Feb 14 (h) WATFORD L 3-4
Feb 10 (h) FULHAM W 3-1
Feb 7 (a) DERBY L 1-4
Feb 4 (h) LIVERPOOL L 1-2 FAC
Last five aways: 1-4, 1-4, 2-4, 0-0, 1-2
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