David N'Gog hit a 90th-minute equaliser as Bolton Wanderers recovered from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough at the Reebok Stadium today.
The visitors raced into a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from strike partners Mustapha Carayol and Curtis Main, before the hosts halved the deficit through Alex Baptiste to leave Dougie Freedman's men trailing by a goal at the break.
Boro seemed set to leave the North-West with the victory, only for N'Gog to pounce in the closing stages to rescue a point for the hosts.
Middlesbrough started much the better of the two sides and it was not long before Aitor Karanka's men boasted the advantage.
Carayol received a cute back-heel from strike partner Main, before firing a first-time effort past Andy Lonergan from 20 yards out after nine minutes.
Chris Eagles nearly provided a swift riposte by volleying narrowly wide of Shay Given's post two minutes later, before the visitors managed to double their advantage in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.
Main capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Lonergan and Zat Knight and slotted into an empty net to strengthen his team's grip on the match.
The second seemed to have been the wake-up call that Bolton needed, and the Trotters soon reduced the deficit when Baptiste curled his effort beyond the reach of Given, who conceded for the first time in 304 minutes.
Karanka's charges should have re-established their two-goal advantage midway through the second half, as Albert Adomah's teasing cross was met by the head of Main but the striker nodded wide of the mark.
It would prove a costly miss as second-half substitute N'Gog - who had earlier missed a good opportunity - made amends for a previous miss by volleying home in the closing stages to salvage a point for Wanderers.
Shane Callaghan
