Middlesbrough look set to achieve their highest finish in the Premiership after this comfortable win against Bolton.
Apart from the defeat at Birmingham City in their first game after the Carling Cup Final win against Bolton, Boro have hit a good seam of form.
They are playing fast, attacking football and the goals are piling up.
No wonder Steve McClaren is happy with the increased scoring rate.
The Boro boss said after the match: "With 23 goals from 13 games, we are the second highest goalscorers in the Premiership since the turn of the year.
"There is greater competition for places in attack and the players are showing more confidence. Hopefully, we can maintain this form in the final games of the season." In contrast, Bolton have struggled since their Carling Cup defeat at the Millennium Stadium. Manager Sam Allardyce has set a 40-point safety target but his side are three short of that total and he will not be happy until they reach it.
Middlesbrough were without skipper Gareth Southgate, who has been a model of consistency this season.
The former Aston Villa player injured his jaw as a second-half substitute for England against Sweden on Wednesday.
Southgate missed out on what would have been his 100th Premiership appearance for Middlesbrough and Ugo Ehiogu, his former Aston Villa team-mate, took over the captaincy.
Boro were also without the injured Franck Queudrue and on-loan star Bolo Zenden dropped back into defence.
Bolton were without the injured Bruno N'Gotty and Steve Howey was recalled to the heart of the defence.
Simon Charlton was relegated to the bench and Anthony Barness recalled to the side.
Boro were seeking revenge for an early-season League defeat while Bolton had a score to settle after their Carling Cup defeat.
Boro could have taken the lead inside three minutes. Gaizka Mendieta fired in a brilliant cross from the right wing but Massimo Maccarone just failed to connect in the middle.
A goal was not long delayed however. Kevin Nolan has been Bolton's leading scorer this season but, on this occasion, the striker was accredited with an own goal.
It was a bizarre own goal as well, for there seemed to be no danger when Mendieta sent over a right-wing corner. Nolan, however, in an attempted clearance, sliced the ball past his own goalkeeper.
No wonder Jussi Jaaskelainen looked stunned as the ball flew past him.
Jaaskelainen denied Juninho and Mendieta while Bolton were desperately unlucky not to draw level through Henrik Pedersen.
Pedersen beat goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to the ball and shot towards goal. The ball struck a post and rolled just wide of target.
Stelios Giannakopoulos appealed for a penalty when he was sent sprawling in the box after a challenge by Ehiogu.
The referee, however, had other ideas and allowed play to continue.
The game was played at a tremendous pace with entertainment and thrills for the 31,000 crowd.
Bolton began the second half in determined mood but Jay-Jay Okocha completely missed his kick when he prepared for a shot at goal.
Jonathan Greening has only been a fringe player with Middlesbrough in the current campaign but he justified his recall to the side with a match-clinching goal six minutes after the break.
When a Mendieta shot was charged down Greening was on the spot to score from six yards.
It was the first goal of the season for the former Manchester United star.
The game was still wide open and Allardyce sent on three substitutes in a bid to at least salvage a point.
It was disappointing for Bolton that the goal drought of Okocha continued.
It is amazing to record that the Nigerian international has failed to score in the top flight this season.
Yet the Bolton skipper is officially credited with more shots on target, and more shots off target, than any player in the Premiership.
"It is unbelievable. I've never had such a season before in my career," said the Bolton skipper.
"But I will keep on trying. The most important thing is for us to get the points on the board so that we are not struggling at the end of the season." Bolton fans are concerned that speculation over a new contract has unsettled Okocha.
The player, however, has denied this. "I am still a Bolton player and I owe the club the obligation to perform.
"The problem for me is the expectation is always so high. I need to be performing week in and week out, for myself and others." Unfortunately for Bolton, Okocha has never recovered his form since an exhausting schedule in the African Nations Cup.
Okocha played six games in under three weeks and this packed programme has obviously taken a lot out of him.
McClaren has been boosted by the prospect of European football for next season and this will undoubtedly enhance his prospects of signing new players.
The former Manchester United coach will also be bank-rolled by wealthy chairman Steve Gibson.
Allardyce will have no such luxury and will have to again look round for free transfers and loan players.
Allardyce admitted: "I think we need eight players for next season. We have some targets and I want to sign up players as quickly as possible." McClaren could make Leeds United striker Mark Viduka a summer target, especially if Leeds crash into the First Division.
McClaren said: "I want new players to be signed before the start of the season rather than begin a new campaign trying to bed in newcomers." The Boro boss has been pleased with his side's fine form since their Carling Cup success adding: "The players have put their medals away and have been magnificent.
"They had set their own targets and we are now moving on. It took us a long time to recover from the first five games of the season but we are now looking a very good team." Allardyce, however, was disappointed with the performance of his side saying: "I have a small squad and I think that told today. My players looked very leggy.
"We played into Middlesbrough's hands and they won comfortably. Our target is to reach 40 points to be safe." MAN OF THE MATCH: Chris Riggott - The former Derby County defender proved a very capable deputy for the injured Gareth Southgate. He was steady and reliable throughout the 90 minutes to justify his selection.