Neil Lennon: 'We deserved something out of the game, in the second half we looked more likely'

Dejected Bolton boss Neil Lennon felt his side did enough to earn at least a point at the Riverside, claiming the visitors were “infinitely superior” in the second half.

The all-action gaffer kicked every ball on the touchline - and the water battles just in front of him over and over again - as he urged Wanderers to go in search of a late leveller against Boro.

And despite the fact his side left the Riverside pointless, Lennon took heart from an improved Bolton display just four days after they were on the receiving end of a 4-1 hammering at Nottingham Forest.

“All in all, it was a good performance,” said the Bolton boss after the game.

“I felt we deserved something out of the game.

“To come to a place like Middlesbrough, and to be able to say we deserved something after our recent performances on the road, is certainly encouraging.

Neil Lennon (L) shouts instructions as Middlesbrough Manager Aitor Karanka looks on

“Middlesbrough were the better team in the first half, as you would expect when they are the home team, but in the second half we were the ones looking the more likely.”

Albert Adomah’s goal in the first half proved to be the matchwinner as Boro held off a late Bolton rally to pick up the points.

Lee Tomlin’s perfectly weighted through ball teed up Adomah for the goal, but Lennon slammed his defenders for “switching off” and said the pass shouldn’t have reached the goalscorer.

Patrick Bamford had two glorious chances to wrap the game up long before the nervous finale.

While Boro bounced back from the defeat against Leeds, Bolton have now won just one of their last seven league games and are just six points above the relegation zone.

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“We had pressure and domination and it was an infinitely better performance than the weekend,” added Lennon.

“We can take a lot of encouragement going forward.”

Experienced campaigner Emile Heskey led the line for the visitors last night alongside Eidur Gudjohnsen.

It was young substitute Zach Clough who looked most likely of grabbing an equaliser when he came off the bench but Lennon praised Heskey for his impact on the game.

“I thought he we looked must better for having Emile in the team.

“He was outstanding up top and dominated their central defenders in the air.

“That performance gives us a bit of a platform to build on going into back to back home games.”