Wigan Athletic 1 Boro 1

The Boro side showed no fewer than five changes from that which beat Xanthi on Thursday night. Out went Matthew Bates, Ray Parlour (for the first time this season), Doriva, Adam Johnson and Massimo Maccarone.

In came skipper Gareth Southgate, Franck Queudrue, Fabio Rochemback, James Morrison and Yakubu.

Unsurprisingly, Wigan manager Paul Jewell named the same side which won away to West Brom and record their second successive Premiership victory last weekend.

In the side was former Boro midfielder, Ireland international Graham Kavanagh.

Before the game fans were entertained with a highly impressive display of dancing and gymnastics from the Latics Allstars, while Boro's faithful following enthusiastically joined in with the musical entertainment offered.

Both sides contributed to a lively start, though neither goalkeeper was troubled.

Shortly after Connolly had fired wide from 25 yards Boro set up a promising attack, but Rochemback was caught ball-watching and the home side broke again.

Emanuel Pogatetz, playing on the left side of midfield was involved in much of the early activity and started a move which created a chance with seven minutes played.

A low ball picked out Viduka, whose first touch sent Rochemback away but, 22 yards from goal, he seemed caught in two minds and eventually shot well over when closed down.

A glorious crossfield ball travelled 60 yards between deliverer Southgate and recipient Morrison, who set up a chance from which a corner ensued.

But the breakthrough came after 13 minutes. A free-kick taken by Abel Xavier was flicked on by Viduka to Yakubu, who brought the ball under control with one touch and with his second, in full stride, lashed a low drive of sumptuous quality beyond Mike Pollitt from a slightly angled seven yards.

Wigan enjoyed a reasonable amount of possession, but Boro, well marshalled, never looked in serious danger before they created a fine chance to score again.

Morrison took up a good position away on the right and picked out Viduka with a simple yet effective ball, but the newly-crowned Australia skipper lashed a wild shot well over from seven yards when he had plenty of time.

A good chance to create pressure was wasted as Pogatetz set off on a powerful run through the middle from 20 yards inside his own half. Options were available in the shape of Xavier to the right and Viduka to the left, but the Austrian delayed his choice on when approaching the edge of the penalty area and was dispossessed.

Steve McClaren wasn't too impressed with the overall performance and moved from a position high in the stand to the touchline.

Referee Uriah Rennie, in his first Premiership game of the season, turned away vehement appeals for a Wigan penalty when a right-wing cross bounced awkwardly in front of Xavier and hit him in the chest.

McClaren soon made a change, forced rather than tactical, as Morrison, who had earlier been hurt in a challenge, limped off to be replaced by Doriva.

Just as the team were adjusting to the change they nearly added a second goal, but a powerful Pogatetz header from a Rochemback free-kick almost broke the crossbar.

Rochemback, quiet in the first half, was given the role of filling in on the right, but still found this game harder than his debut against Arsenal eight days ago.

The Brazilian drifted infield a lot leaving Boateng the role of covering and as a consequence Boro often lacked width. Pogatetz was solid on the other flank, but lacked the pace of a natural wide man, but Boro were strong in the middle and defensively sound.

When Lee McCulloch, the player who caught Morrison late in the first half, clattered into Schwarzer, it was clear the goalkeeper would need treatment.

The game stopped almost as quickly as it restarted as Pogatetz again caught Bullard and conceded a free-kick.

McClaren made another change just past the hour as Viduka was replaced by Maccarone, who took the field to huge acclaim from the Boro following.

Rochemback moved back into the middle and twice in four minutes shot for goal; the first effort went horribly wide, the second clearing the bar by a yard.

But it was the home side who were next to find the net, equalising midway through the second half.

A long left-footed ball from Leighton Baines curled behind Boro's backline. Ugo Ehiogu attempted to clear but the ball hit substitute Henri Camara on the chest. Ehiogu appealed for handball, Camara continued with the game and Schwarzer was left stranded as he tucked in with Gareth Southgate closing from 10 yards.

Camara, who had only been on the field for four minutes when he scored, wasn't far away with a snap shot from the left-hand edge of the penalty area a few minutes later as Boro continued to find the going more difficult in the second half.

The game was in the main played between the two penalty areas for much of the second period, neither side creative enough to prise open well marshalled defences, but Bullard cut in from the right to fire in a shot which Schwarzer caught just under his bar a few minutes from time.

Two minutes from time a Pogatetz pass was deflected for a corner, from which Xavier headed for goal winning another corner with a deflected header, but nothing came from the next delivery.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer; Xavier, Ehiogu, Southgate (Capt), Queudrue, Morrison (Doriva 44), Boateng, Rochemback, Pogatetz, Yakubu, Viduka (Maccarone 61). Unused subs: Jones (gk); Bates, Graham.

Wigan: Pollitt; Chimbonda, Henchoz, De Zeeuw (Capt), Baines, Bullard, Kavanagh, Francis, McCulloch, Roberts, Connolly (Camara 63). Unused subs: Filan (gk); Jackson, McMillan, Taylor.

REFEREE: Uriah Rennie, Sheffield

Middlesbrough: Pogatetz, 40, foul on Bullard.

Wigan: None

ATTENDANCE: 16,641

CONDITIONS: Bright with a gentle breeze.

WEBSITE BORO MAN OF THE MATCH: Gareth Southgate.