Eric Paylor loved Middlesbrough's performance at Bolton

Scintillating stuff – and the big bonus is that Middlesbrough can only get better!

The five-goal hammering of Bolton Wanderers is a prelude of what Kim Hellberg’s side is capable of achieving this season provided they continue to evolve and develop.

The passing and movement was absolutely outstanding at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, yet it’s worth reminding ourselves that this team is still getting to know each other.

Hellberg started the match with five players who weren’t here last season. Six, if you include the loaned out and reborn Neto Borges.

You might argue that some of these players are defenders, but the players on the pitch don’t seem to care about the theory that they are playing is precise positions.

The way in which Boro packed the Bolton box with virtually a full team of players at times was breathtaking to witness. All the lads want to get their names on the scoresheet or set up an open goal for a team-mate.

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The way in which Riley McGree broke through unopposed and passed the ball to team-mate Will Lankshear for a tap-in goal was symptomatic of the lack of individuality which is emerging.

Boro played and acted out as a team yet they are still getting used to each other and finding each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

This wonderful attacking spirit is likely to become increasingly evident in away games where the home teams have a natural instinct to try to attack and leave more gaps at the back.

The key to the pattern was set by Tommy Conway in the first minute when he broke through and might have scored with an angled drive.

This set the tone with the inspirational Conway an absolute treat to watch all the way until he was replaced in the second half, having long completed the work he was set out to do.

Conway’s switch to become an orthodox left-winger has been truly sensational. He is proving very much a team man because more often than not he is trying to set up somebody else who has a clearer scoring opportunity.

On the other flank the lively Amario Cozier-Duberry tends to prefer to shoot more often than not, but as he continues to get his feet under the table he will hopefully enjoy creating assists as much as he does scoring goals.

If Boro can continue their development programme, next week’s trips to Wrexham and Watford will hold no fears at all – except for those clubs’ home fans.

The main thing now is to make sure that Boro turn this wonderful attacking style of football into a consistent match-winner at home.

Even though they will be pouring men forward against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, the visitors will surely defend very heavily in numbers – just as they did at the Riverside last season.

In these situations Boro have looked a little susceptible at the back at times and been caught out on the break. Most of the team’s recent home games have proven this point.

On a positive note just think what the scoreline would have been at Bolton had Boro taken a mere 50 per cent of the good chances they created.

Yes, it can only get even better as long as the team continues to develop and believe in themselves as a unit. Bring on the Addicks!

Expelling some demons

Charlton Athletic have not won any of their last nine games in the Championship – but that’s no reason why they can be taken lightly.

In fact, Boro must prepare in the proper manner and treat the game like a cup final. No resting key players, no easing off in the match build-up and by taking the field with a sheer determination to carry on where they left off at Bolton.

After all the circumstances were not much different at the Riverside last season when Charlton presented Boro with a block defence and scored the only goal of the game following a rare break forward.

It will probably be very similar again in that the Addicks will place the emphasis heavily on pulling virtually everyone into their six yard box.

Head coach Nathan Jones is a wily old fox. He’s been around a lot and he knows the leagues. He’s also arguably fighting for his future if Charlton’s dismal run continues because they are hovering just above the bottom three places.

It should also be remembered that one of Charlton’s three wins this season came at West Ham in August, when they triumphed by 2-1. The bonus for Boro is that they are showing distinct signs of being able to weave their way through massed defences. This will be the biggest test in this respect yet this season, but Boro now have the quality to do the business if they work very hard.

If Jones opts for a change of system and goes on the offensive, then you would expect that would open the doors wide for Boro.

However there are threats. Striker Tyreece Campbell, a Jamaican international, is the Addicks’ top scorer this season with five goals. In midfield they’ve got the experienced Nathaniel Chalobah, who spent a few months with Boro on loan from Chelsea in 2014.

But if Kim Hellberg and his men really want to win this, then they can do so.