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Bolton Wanderers interim manager Jimmy Phillips hopes former club Middlesbrough FC can now finish the job and clinch promotion to the Premier League.

Former Ayresome hero Phillips played 170 games for Boro in the 1990s and was captain in the 2-1 win at Wolves in May 1992 which clinched promotion to the inaugural Premier League under Lennie Lawrence.

Now caretaker manager at Bolton, ex-full-back Phillips admitted his side caused problems despite losing 2-1 to league leaders Boro at the Macron Stadium.

And Phillips has backed his former side to reach the Premier League this season, with only four matches remaining.

"There's three teams going to be promoted and I hope Middlesbrough are one of those three," Phillips said after the match.

"I had three fantastic seasons there, I really enjoyed my time up there.

"My eldest son, Billy, was born in Stockton so I've got family ties there, and before the game I saw Mark Page who used to live next door to me and is still announcer at the Boro.

"As the manager of Bolton today, we wanted to give them as tough a game as we possibly could. But now it's all finished, I wish them well and hope they do it.

"As for any team, the Premier League is the league to be playing in. Every first-team player wants to play in the Premier League, it's the ultimate league."

Despite their Championship fate having already been decided, Bolton put in a resilient display against Boro and took the lead on the hour mark through Josh Vela.

But Jordan Rhodes' late double handed Boro a sixth consecutive victory - and Phillips felt there was one pivotal moment that swung the game in the visitors' favour.

"Having gone into the lead we had something to hold on to," Phillips added.

"I think possibly the turning point was Emile Heskey having to come off having given as much as he could, and we didn't have a player to hold the ball up front.

"From that moment, plus Boro's attacking substitutions, the game went their way.

"When the ball hit the foot of the post (from Rhodes' late effort at 1-1) we thought we'd hold on for a draw, but it wasn't to be.

"We encouraged the players to get on the ball and show as much in possession as we could, be confident with the ball as our league fate has been decided, but also have a competitive edge and a defensive shape that was difficult to beat.

"We saw plenty of fight in us today, and that's got to be the case between now and the end of the season.

"There's still areas to work on, definitely, between now and the end of the season so hopefully we can achieve better ball retention, become harder to beat and still work hard. That'll set the players up for next season."