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WIGAN v MIDDLESBROUGH ANALYSIS AND PLAYER RATINGS 7-5-07
Udayan Mukherjee
Middlesbrough recorded only their second away victory of the campaign with a solid, if unspectacular victory over relegation haunted Wigan. Although most of the talk before the game about this being 'must win' for Wigan, it was also massively important for Boro with the Teessiders needing a point to be mathematically sure of survival.
That point, and indeed two more, were gained by a workmanlike performance interspersed with moments of great play and a slightly fortunate Middlesbrough goal to send the vocal travelling hordes into raptures.
Wigan, who had one of their largest crowds of the season, were urged on by the home support from the off, and attacked the Boro goal with verve and determination, but little in the way of class. Indeed there were no chances of note apart from a header by Lee McCulloch with had beaten Mark Schwarzer but cannoned off the bar.
Wigan were enjoying territorial dominance and it was to be twenty minutes before the Wigan onslaught was stemmed when Rochemback launched a free kick into the box. It was to no avail however, and Wigan began again.
However it was Middlesbrough who took the lead in slightly controversial circumstances. Dong Gook Lee, enjoying his second start in a Middlesbrough shirt in place of Yakubu, was felled a few yards away from the Wigan box. Downing looked to whip the ball in but as he approached the ball he slipped. The jeers of the Wigan fans were silenced immediately when the ball somehow managed to curl perfectly into the no-man's-land between the congregation in the box and Mike Pollit in the Wigan goal. Mark Viduka's anticipation was superb and he ghosted in at the far post for a simple tap in.
Wigan were shocked and although they tried to come back it was the Boro who looked like scoring on the break. Stewart Downing broke the offside trap, but was denied by Mike Pollit who got a hand to Downing's low drive.
A couple of head injuries meant that there was six minutes of injury time at the end of the first half. In the final minute of this added time, Wigan had a massive penalty shout when an Andrew Taylor tackle seemed to result in a handball by the youngster when he was sprawled out on the floor. Replays showed that there was no contact with the youngster's arms, but Wigan were incensed. Half time came with Boro in the lead.
Boro almost added to their lead when Julio Arca played a quite magnificent thirty yard pass which found Downing in space behind the Wigan defence. With time and space Downing dragged his shot well wide when Mark Viduka was placed in a better position in the centre. It should have been 2-0.
Boro had a further chance to increase the lead when a Rochemback free kick almost found the outstretched boot of Viduka. There was plenty of huff and puff from Wigan, but it was the Boro fans whose voices were booming around the JJB stadium. With Poggy, Woodgate, Viduka and Arca imperious, it was Boro who were outclassing their opponents. Wigan fans were nervous.
Despite effort from the home side, it was all to no avail and Boro were celebrating their second away victory of the season. We are now safe and will be competing in the Premier league for the tenth season in a row come August.
Player ratings
Schwarzer - Did well - 7
Davies - impressive performance - 7
Taylor - Solid - 7
Woodgate - Imperious - 8.5
Pogatetz - Good game, went a bit mental at one point, but thankfully was calmed down by Woodgate. - 7.5
Downing - Good performance, set up a goal in bizarre circumstances. - 8
Arca - Classy - 8.5
Rochemback - decent - 7
Boateng - Played well on the right hand side - 7
Viduka - Great finish, played well throughout - 8
Dong Gook - off the pace - 6
Substitutes
Cattermole, Euell and Johnson - all late replacements - 6
That's all folks,
Udayan Mukherjee
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