Middlesbrough and Wigan Athletic played out a goalless draw in their Championship clash at the Riverside Stadium this evening.
Wigan started the game on the front foot and could have taken the lead through Chris McCann as his close-range effort was deflected just wide of the post, after Nick Powell had knocked Ben Watson's free kick into his path.
The home side responded and Mustapha Carayol came close to finding the net as Powell lost possession in the centre circle, and the midfielder drove at goal and powered a shot which went just wide of the post.
Carayol was to be denied again just before the break as Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi came for the ball and missed it, leaving an opening for the midfielder. However, Emmerson Boyce was on the line to clear it away.
After the break, Boro pressed and the Latics were grateful to Boyce as he made an excellent intervention at the near post to stop Carayol's cross from reaching Curtis Main, who was lurking in the penalty area.
Main did get the ball minutes later inside the penalty area as Emmanuel Ledesma raided down the flank and his cross found the striker, but he could only fire his effort well over the bar from six yards out.
Wigan almost took the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances when James McArthur fired a shot from distance which took a deflection and wrong-footed Shay Given, but he managed to get across to the ball to tip it over the bar.
Both sides pressed for a late winner but weren't able to find a breakthrough as the game ended all square.
Simon Sinclair
