Premier League Round-up:Bolton's record signing Johan Elmander finally showed a glimpse of the reason why Gary Megson stumped up €12.5million for him in the summer with a stunning late strike to sink Middlesbrough 3-2 at the Riverside.
The Swede had been axed by his national team and endured countless votes of confidence from his manager after failing to hit the net since the opening day win over Stoke.
But today Elmander provided the best possible answer to his critics when he chested down a Jlloyd Samuel cross in the 78th minute before lashing an unstoppable left-foot shot past Ross Turnbull.
Elmander's late heroics extinguished Boro hopes of a grandstand finish after Stewart Downing had given them hope of extending their unbeaten record to six games with a low strike two minutes earlier.
But the truth was Boro never deserved a thing from an afternoon in which they started appallingly and found themselves two goals down after strikes by Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor with just 10 minutes on the clock.
Hull twice came from behind to pick up another Premier League point with a 2-2 draw away to Portsmouth.
But Pompey had to rue some missed chances to bury the battling Tigers and how they could have done with top-scorer Jermain Defoe, who was ruled out by the calf injury sustained playing for England in Germany on Wednesday.
Strike partner Peter Crouch, required to play just 28 seconds for his country in Berlin, headed Pompey in front in the 21st minute after they dominated matters with a flying start.
Michael Turner nodded a far-post equaliser nine minutes after half-time before right back Glen Johnson restored Pompey's lead with a 25-yard stunner.
But Noe Pamarot — under pressure from 39-year-old Dean Windass — headed an 89th minute own goal to earn Hull a point.
Mamady Sidibe headed a late winner for Stoke as they condemned fellow newcomers West Brom to a third successive defeat.
The rematch between the top two in last season's Championship fell some way short of top-flight standards for long periods in a match heavy on industry but short on attacking flair.
Stoke spent much of the second half attempting to tease a mistake out of goalkeeper Scott Carson, following his blunder for England in midweek, but when the winner came it was the bottom side's defence that made Sidibe's job too easy.
