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The Teessiders went in front inside two minutes from a tap-in by Joseph-Desire Job after a Boudewijn Zenden cross.

Five minutes later Middlesbrough were 2-0 ahead through a Zenden penalty after Emerson Thome brought down Job.

A Mark Schwarzer howler gifted a goal back for Kevin Davies but the keeper made amends by twice denying Youri Djorkaeff and Boro held on.

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren had not even taken his place in the dugout when his side made it a dream start.

Gaizka Mendieta released a flying Zenden down the left and he drove in a cross that gave Job the simple task of sliding in to tap home.

A stunned Bolton side were straight back on the attack and Djorkaeff almost squeezed a shot inside Schwarzer's near post but the keeper pulled off a fine stop.

But the Trotters' hopes of a first trophy in 46 years appeared to be slipping away as early as the seventh minute when Middlesbrough went two goals ahead.

Job went down in the box after what looked to be minimal contact from Thome and Bolton players were astounded when referee Mike Riley pointed to the spot.

Zenden slipped as he was taking the penalty but Jussi Jaaskelainen had already committed himself and although he got a foot to the spot-kick, he could not keep it out.

Thome's day almost went from bad to worse when he sliced a Juninho cross just over his own crossbar.

KEY MOMENTS 2 mins: Job taps home to give Middlesbrough an early lead 7 mins: Zenden doubles Boro's lead from the spot 21 mins: Davies pulls one back for Bolton after a Schwarzer howler

There seemed to be little on when he received the ball on the right-hand side and he looked to have chosen the wrong option in attempting a shot from an acute angle.

The striker failed to connect cleanly with the shot but Schwarzer inexplicably allowed the ball to squirm inside his near post.

Buoyed by the goal Bolton went in search of an equaliser but found Schwarzer keen to make up for his earlier indiscretion.

The Australian stopper tipped Per Frandsen's curling shot on to the post and then reacted brilliantly to hold Djorkaeff's follow-up.

Djorkaeff was handed two quick chances to get Bolton back on level terms but shot wide from a good position and was then denied by a fine one-handed stop by Schwarzer.

Bolton were fortunate when Nicky Hunt looked to have pulled back Job as he ran in on goal, but this time Riley waved away Boro's penalty appeals.

After the roller-coaster ride of the opening 45 minutes the second half was a more tame affair but both sides had chances to add to the scoring.

Bolton threatened with Hunt's cross finding an unmarked Nolan but his header was straight at Schwarzer.

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And with Bolton committing more men forward the Brazilian midfielder had another chance to put the game beyond Bolton, but shot over under pressure from Bruno N'Gotty.

In the dying stages Mendieta was denied a third by a last-ditch block from Thome and at the other end Ugo Ehiogu did likewise to deny Stelios Giannakopoulos.

Middlesbrough's defence held firm to make it third time lucky after two previous League Cup final defeats.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt (Giannakopoulos 87), N'Gotty, Thome,Charlton, Frandsen (Pedersen 63), Campo, Okocha,Nolan (Javi Moreno 78), Djorkaeff, Davies.
Subs not used: Poole, Barness.

Booked: Frandsen, Campo.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mills, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue,Mendieta, Boateng, Doriva, Zenden, Juninho Paulista,Job (Ricketts 65).
Subs not used: Jones, Riggott, Maccarone, Downing.

Booked: Boateng, Ricketts.

Attendance: 72,634

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).