Bolton boss Gary Megson admits there is still much work to do to avoid relegation after his side rode their luck at Middlesbrough.Gavin McCann grabbed the only goal of the game at the Riverside Stadium to lift the Trotters out of the bottom three.

A Bolton win seemed far from likely as Boro raced out of the blocks only to squander several good chances in the opening minutes.

The visitors eventually settled and McCann stabbed home the winner from close range just before the hour, lifting his side above Reading - beaten at Arsenal - and Birmingham.

Megson said: "It was half a game from our point of view.

"I was really concerned and really angry, I thought we had gone past that and expected a much better start from us.

"We were certainly poor in the first 20 minutes but we are thankful we have a top-class goalkeeper.

"(Ali) Al Habsi made three or four top-class saves that kept us in it.

"Gradually we came back into it and the second half, it was like chalk and cheese. We were miles, miles better than in the first 45 minutes."

After somehow coming through the first half unscathed, with Tuncay Sanli and Afonso Alves among those to go close for Boro, Megson sensed the opportunity to step up the pressure.

"I felt that after 45 minutes, because of the goings on at the Emirates earlier and Liverpool beating Fulham, we wouldn't get a better chance to get out," Megson added.

"We weren't going to achieve that the way we were playing but our stats in the second half were much better than the first.

"We just went about our game in a much better manner. We are not by any stretch playing champagne football but I defy anyone to in the bottom three at this stage of the season.

"Psychologically I am sure it is a big thing for us but what we must recognise is we haven't done anything apart from give us a much better opportunity than we had two weeks ago."

Boro boss Gareth Southgate admitted his side paid the price for failing to make the most of their openings.

Southgate had fielded an attacking line-up with Tuncay and Alves up front with Jeremie Aliadiere but it was to prove a frustrating afternoon.

Southgate said: "We had the chances in the first 20 minutes to have been in a very strong position at half-time.

"People have said we have nothing to play for and would we be up for it, but in the way we started the game I think we showed we were.

"But when you those spells of pressure you have got to score and we didn't.

"They started the second half much better than us, simple as that, and when they had their spell they scored."

McCann was fortunate not to concede a penalty for handball just moments before he popped up at the other end for his goal. Referee Alan Wiley deemed the contact accidental after Stewart Downing's cross was deflected into his path.

When asked whether it should have been a penalty, Southgate replied: "Definitely. It was at a time in the game when it was 0-0 and a goal at that stage would have made an enormous difference.

"But we didn't get it and these things are outside our control."

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