As Neil Lennon screamed frantically at his players in one final push from the touchline, Ben Amos charged forward for a late flurry of corners.
Meanwhile, in the stands nervous fans could only watch on. Aitor Karanka was doing the same, watching nervously as his side edged towards a vital victory.
How vital? Undoubtedly one of the biggest results of Boro's season so far.
A quick glance at results elsewhere emphasises the importance of the three points on home turf last night.
It was nervy, it was tight, it was tense but Boro did enough. They're still there, poised and sat on Derby's shoulder.
Hearts shouldn't really have been in mouths in the final stages last night, Boro should have done enough to wrap the game up. More specifically, Patrick Bamford should have put the game to bed.
But thankfully two glorious chances spurned didn't come back to haunt the hosts.
Aitor Karanka called for a reaction after the defeat to Leeds and although he might not have got what he was looking for in terms of a performance, he got exactly that in the result.
Back to winning ways. Here's what we learnt in the win over Bolton:
Albert Adomah is looking back to his best as an attacking threat
Albert Adomah - not at his best this season or just adapting to a new role?
The form of the flanker has been discussed regularly throughout the campaign.
And it's hard to argue with those who claim he's lost his edge in the final third. Adomah is nowhere near his goal tally of last season and hasn't been anywhere near as much of a threat in the opposition box.
But does that mean he's been a let down or is Adomah simply adapting to his role in the Karanka 4-2-3-1 system?
Regardless, against Leeds on Saturday he was Boro's best performer by a long way. A menace to the left side of the visitors throughout, Adomah and Nsue linked up extremely well down the right flank and had a say in most of Boro's good stuff.
To be dropped from the squad was harsh on Nsue but it's the nature of game when you look at the options AK has available to him.
Adomah, on the other hand, impressed again and got the match-winning goal to cap off his display last night.
It's only his fourth of the season. Other than Grant Leadbitter, the midfielders and wide-men haven't scored anywhere near enough goals as they should have done this season.
Lee Tomlin has sparked into life in front of goal so far in 2015. Hopefully Adomah can do the same after his vital contribution last night.
The pressure is well and truly on Bournemouth tonight
Derby win, Boro win, Ipswich win, Norwich win, Watford win, Brentford win, Wolves win. Over to you, Bournemouth.
Eddie Howe has played down any claims of pressure on his side throughout the campaign but the Bournemouth boss will realise the importance of his side's game tonight after his rivals turned up the heat at the top.
And the City Ground wouldn't be the venue of choice for visiting teams at the minute in search of a much-needed result.
Forest look revitalised under Dougie Freedman, too far back to make a late push for the play-offs but undoubtedly looking to continue their recent run of form.
Seven points separate Derby on top spot and Brentford just outside the play-offs after last night's results.
Bournemouth, pace-setters for so long, will find themselves six points back should they lose tonight.
Howe will stress the fact that the league is far from over regardless of tonight's result but the Cherries will be playing catch-up unless they pick up all three points.
Boro have demonstrated their battling qualities against Bolton twice now this season
Have Bolton seen the very best of Boro this season? Anything but. Yet they still find themselves pointless against Aitor Karanka's title chasers.
A goal down at the Macron Stadium earlier in the campaign, Boro were staring consecutive defeats in the face after the loss at Leeds.
A double thumbs up from Kike marked a turnaround as Boro picked up the points. How crucial those three points could be come the end of the campaign. Ditto those won at the Riverside last night.
Aitor Karanka's assessment of the performance as one of the worst of his time as boss seemed harsh - surely he remembers the goal drought - but his side were way short of their best.
A clean sheet was a huge positive though - the first in five games - and Dimi Konstantopoulos was at his commanding best between the sticks. As if we needed reminding, Dimi proved why he's the undisputed No.1.
On the subject of the aforementioned drought, remember the ghost goal at Sheffield Wednesday that wasn't given?
What more motivation do Boro need to right the wrongs of the result at Hillsborough last year and add three more points to their tally this Saturday.
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