Sort-of-not-very Immediate Reaction: Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Middlesbrough

Well that was depressingly predictable.

I was irritated to see Bolton Wanderers making a decent fist of facing top of the league Middlesbrough. Where has that gumption been all season? Imagine the seethe that would have erupted had we actually won!

Middlesbrough arrived with their expensive squad led by an expensive manager, and they generally outclassed Wanderers from the first minute until the last. Bolton grafted - but the gap in class was there for all to see.

Former Bolton striker Jordan Rhodes looked a threat throughout and for him to come away with only two goals might see him somewhat disappointed. Watching from my comfy chair at the Tom Finney pub I was impressed with him and was surprised that we made it to half time without conceding.

Effort aside, Wanderers struggled to get going up top. Zach Clough looked lively, and Emile Heskey made a nuisance of himself - mainly to Bolton fans - and it was against the run of play when Josh Vela scored his first home goal for the club. Vela ventured forward and perhaps gave us a glimpse of how useful he may be next year, if he hangs around.

As we all know by now, Boro came back and struck twice to take the points and it was with a familiar shake of the head that I switched the damned thing off and went for some fresh air.

Ben Amos might well look at his recovery for the first goal, and Darren Pratley can go and jump off a cliff following his pathetic 'efforts' when it came to the second. I suspect we'll still have one of these two next year and this saddens me.

In a league where margins are fine, and we have only effort to show for ourselves, our relegation is only a surprise in that it took so damned long to be confirmed.

A challenging week awaits, with a new man expected to be announced by Friday. Chris Wilder would be a good choice for me, but he's no Neil Warnock.