Wigan 0 – 0 Boro

Wigan Athletic Middlesbrough
Possession
Shots
On target
Corners
Fouls
49%
6
2
5
11
Possession
Shots
On target
Corners
Fouls
51%
15
1
7
14

Profligate Boro draw a blank

Redcar Red reports on Boro’s goalless draw at Wigan…

For a change there was no ex Boro Manager involved with this week’s opponents Wigan. Once upon a time these two sides used to meet in the Premiership in what seemed like an eternity for both sets of fans. I recall Jermie Ardlyeverthere once scoring in a victory and likewise even the Yak netting before he disgraced himself in 2007 in what was one of the most unsportsmanlike and shameful episodes of any Boro player.

Wigan only arrived into the Football League back in 1978 at the expense of another North West side Southport. The name Wigan apparently comes from the Ancient Briton term for Welshman in the days before they were pushed into Wales by the advancing Romans. The Boro travelling army were hoping that new look Boro could repeat a similar victorious feat this afternoon. Paul Cook the Wigan Manager had no serious injury concerns so had a full squad to select from as they hoped to add to their four match unbeaten record. TP had question marks over Flint and Friend, whose absences had forced the seemingly more dynamic and potent Boro set up.

Team news saw TP stick with the same side as the QPR game as most had thought or at least hoped while Cook made two changes to his starting eleven bringing in Kipre and Byrne in place of Jacobs and Pilkington from their draw against the Tractor boys.

Ref Stephen Martin’s whistle got proceedings underway as the Home side kicked off at a wet and overcast but unseasonably mild DW Stadium in front of a sizeable Boro travelling army amounting to almost a third of those in attendance. Initial excitement involved a great move between Howson and Fletcher as Boro came closest to breaking the deadlock. Early exchanges saw Boro look comfortable with Wigan looking slightly suspect with their unconventional back three. In the 9th minute Wing fed Fletcher whose effort was cleared to Howson whose “shot” should have been met by Britt who in fairness was surprised and stuck out a leg more in hope than anything but the best chance of the game thus far was gone.

Howson again charged forward unleashing a shot that was cleared as our right wing back was looking up for the game and sensing that the Home side were there for the taking. Boro were now zipping the ball about with confidence and next up was Lewis Wing who played Britt in but the effort went over but the pressure was building. Wigan however were settling into the match and on 20 minutes a cross was chested out by Saville for a Wigan corner which was played into the near post and fortunately cleared in what was the first real spell of pressure from Wigan.

A challenge between Windass and Ayala saw Dani add to his yellow card collection for what was presumably a push but it all looked fairly innocuous and a talking to at most. The pace of the game had now slowed which seemed to suit the pie eaters more and the weekly great save from Randolph from Morsy was a warning to Boro that they needed to get back into this. Seconds later Howson had to clear out for a corner which saw a shot that went wide of Randolph’s goal which had the Home fans booing for the Refs decision to award a goal kick when it looked to all intents and purposes like it took a deflection off a red shirt.

Shotton was perhaps fortunate not to follow Ayala into the book for a foul on the lively Morsy as Wigan now started to control the game. Assombalonga wide left found Howson who tried to place a shot that went out for a corner which in turn went out almost immediately for another corner  delivered by Wing but it was routinely cleared. A reckless challenge by Dunkley on Wing as he received the ball from Fletcher had the away fans looking anxious as he received treatment. The resultant free kick would have been ideal for Wing but he was on the touchline receiving treatment so we saw Saville take responsibility but he hit it low and harmlessly wide.

Boro had now started to get back into proceedings as the minutes ticked down towards the half time whistle. A long Ryan Shotton throw in found Ayala but James cleared and Windass was adjudged to have been blown over by Shotton as the Ref seemed incredibly sensitive to any sort of physical challenge, clearly influenced by the volume level of the Home fans. Another Boro throw in quickly found Mo Besic who rattled off a shot which was tipped around the upright by Jones for a corner which almost predictably ended up floating onto the top of his net.

A Besic dither losing possession saw Windass now trying to entice Ayala into a rash challenge, gamesmanship seemingly being a deliberate tactic now aware of the Referee’s suspect whistling habits. Fletcher had a good chance but passed instead of taking it on and the ball went harmlessly out of play just before the half time whistle sounded with Boro having the best of chances but so far just lacking that killer instinct. Paul Cook would have been by far the happier of the two managers hearing the whistle at 0-0. The half times elsewhere were all going well from a Boro perspective and if we could just nick a goal surely we could see this game out comfortably with a clean sheet and cement a Playoff place. News was that Bristol, Forest and Birmingham were all losing and that Frank Lampard’s Derby were being ripped apart by Villa. Even Norwich had been pegged back level at the Den.

Boro kicked off the second half with no changes from either side. Besic was cleaned out for a definite yellow which Ref Martin somehow ignored as his inconsistency continued. Wing fired in the free kick which was initially cleared by Morsy but was launched back in by Fry seeing Shotton win the header knocking it down to Ayala who swung his boot but was deemed to have fouled Dunkley in the process. Wing now seemed to be pushed further up with Besic sitting deeper after half time to try and get at and rattle the Wigan defence.

Dael Fry then put the ball out for a Wigan corner which immediately led to a second corner which was powered into the Boro box but the danger was cleared by Saville. Frustratingly we could almost taste the three points but we needed to take the next opportunity or else you sensed that Wigan could spoil things for the noisy travelling Teessiders. Another half chance once again set up by Howson ended in nothing then almost immediately at the opposite end Leon Clarke saw his glanced header go just wide of Randolph’s goal. TP now needed to think about changing things as the Besic/Mikel combo had looked awkward and our wasteful forwards needed feeding.

The game was see-sawing and could have gone either way. A Besic volley was hit well but too high which was now becoming the norm for the afternoon. Windass then led a Wigan break and in a quick move Evans fluffed his lines indicating just how edgy this game had become. Besic had yet another long range effort but again it was well off the target. Paul Cook blinked first and took off Naismith to bring on Jacobs.

Wing played the ball out to Howson who won a corner for his troubles as Boro searched desperately for that elusive goal but another poor Saville corner was easily collected by Jones. 65 minutes now gone and TP had his subs warming up clearly thinking about adding some verve in the form of Stewy, Tav or VLP. That sight of subs warming up seemed to momentarily spark things as another Boro shot was fired into the side netting.

Downing then came on for Besic to add a little more composure and predictability than Mo had offered despite his off target shot stats for the afternoon. Stewy went to left wing back with Saville now pushed up into the midfield. A cross was cleared out by Howson for a Wigan corner but the Ref bizarrely gave a Boro goal kick from which Britt broke feeding Fletcher who rounded the Keeper but hit the side netting when scoring looked easier. Next a fierce Saville cross was inviting but nobody could get on it as it went out for a throw in. Things were getting more and more frustrating from a Boro perspective. Cook took Windass off and Pilkington came on for Wigan with twenty minutes remaining.

The ball did end up in the net but Fletcher was penalised for out-muscling Kipre which for Boro fans seeing Fletcher supposedly foul was almost laughable as the Ref came up with yet another controversial interpretation of the laws. TP had Hugill warming up but if Fletcher was considered as too physical by the Ref then heaven knows what he would make of Hugill. Jonny Howson picked up a careless yellow card as Tav and Hugill were both readied to be brought on with ten minutes remaining. A weak Boro penalty claim was dismissed; Wigan then broke but sent the ball into the stands courtesy of Jacobs as both sides struggled to hit the intended target. Fletcher and Assombalonga were deemed to have had enough chances by Pulis and departed the field while Cook made his last change at the same time.

The bold double substitution almost saw immediate dividends as Tav closed down the Wigan defence and forced a Boro throw in as ominous dark clouds gathered prophetically over the DW Stadium. Tav and Downing tried to desperately feed Hugill but the balls were not of the required quality, desperation levels in the away stand were rising as Bristol had equalised and Norwich had gone 3-1 up at the Den.

Five minutes now left, Tav found Fry who played in Downing who was clearly fouled but not in the eyes of the Ref who continued his eccentric display. Mikel then played in Tav who set up Hugill but his first touch was like a welly wearing Hippo in a tutu and the ball went out for a Wigan goal kick. Time was running out as the fourth official programmed three minutes of added time on his board.

Tav left Morsy chasing his shadow, fed Howson who played it back to Tav who invited a tackle and won a corner for the effort. Downing took the corner but the delivery was woeful yet again as our set pieces had been all afternoon. It didn’t look like it was Boro’s day at all as sub Garner won a corner in the dying seconds off Fry. James delivered the ball in which came off Kipre and a free kick was yet again bizarrely awarded. As the game restarted the final whistle went. Boro had their chances but our finishing was woeful and not for the first time our Strikers needed far too many chances to convert. A point was a disappointment as reality sunk in that this result pretty much made any hopes of a top two spot now a forlorn hope.

MOM was undoubtedly Howson who was head and shoulders above everyone else in a Red shirt. We had spells of pressure in a scrappy game that we should have won but poor finishing was our Achilles heel as storm Freya was about to make the journey back across the A66 even more dramatic than our shots on target.

If you wish to leave a comment about Redcar Red’s match report please return to the Week 31-32 discussion page