|
Henri Camara's second-half goal continued Wigan's revival as they held Middlesbrough to a draw at the JJB.
Henri Camara's second-half goal continued Wigan's revival as they held Middlesbrough to a draw at the JJB.
Yakubu's sharp finish from Mark Viduka's flick-on was the only goal of the first half, where Wigan had most of the play but fewer clear chances.
Wigan's Lee McCulloch saw a header ruled out for pushing before substitute Camara took advantage of Ugo Ehiogu's indecision to level for Wigan.
Wigan did not create many chances but were more keen and deserved the point.
In the early stages, Jimmy Bullard went close for Wigan before Yakubu opened the scoring with a clinical finish after Viduka flicked on Abel Xavier's long free-kick.
This roused Wigan and their fans into life but for all their efforts, they failed to seriously test Mark Schwarzer in the Boro goal until Graham Kavanagh flashed a free-kick over the bar.
Jason Roberts had two good chances for Wigan shortly before the break, one coming when he failed to connect with Pascal Chimbonda's cross, and the other being denied by a superb Gareth Southgate tackle.
Emmanuel Pogatetz could have doubled Boro's lead as the first half went into stoppage time, rattling the crossbar with a header, but it was a rare moment of drama.
Boro seemed unconcerned about going for a second goal, and they were soon made to pay.
McCulloch saw his header ruled out for barging shortly before Camara levelled the scores, poking home after Ehiogu allowed a long pass to bounce, rather than cutting it out.
With 20 minutes of a scrappy match left, Camara came within inches of making it 2-1 when he flashed a shot wide as Wigan showed more enthusiasm but without really taking charge of the match.
Wigan manager Paul Jewell
"If you go behind in the Premiership it's hard to claw it back. We've done it twice in two games now.
"I'd prefer us not to go behind, but it shows we've got character.
"David Connolly's a great acquisition for us but I thought we needed a bit extra with (substitute) Henri Camara's pace, he got his toe to the ball and it went into the net."
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren
"We controlled the game and we had chances. If we got that second goal I think we'd have won it, but Wigan are team who'll fight all season.
"There was a touch of handball in Wigan's goal but we should have dealt with the ball before it got there.
"Sometimes you have a bad day at the office but scrape a 1-0. We thought we'd done that so we'll take a point."
Wigan: Pollitt, Chimbonda, Henchoz, De Zeeuw, Baines, Kavanagh, Bullard, Francis, McCulloch, Connolly (Camara 64), Roberts. Subs Not Used: Filan, McMillan, Jackson, Taylor.
Goals: Camara 68.
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Xavier, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Morrison (Doriva 44), Rochemback, Boateng, Pogatetz, Viduka (Maccarone 61), Yakubu. Subs Not Used: Jones, Bates, Graham.
Booked: Pogatetz.
Goals: Yakubu 14.
Att: 16,641
Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
 |
Home 
Sport & Leisure 
This really was two points thrown away by Boro