After Latics started brightly, Mark Viduka's goal just before the half-hour mark was enough to send Latics to defeat at the JJB Stadium.
Despite a bright and positive performance from Latics, they succumbed to the only chance Boro had in the first half. Two minutes before the half-hour mark, Leighton Baines conceded a free kick against Chinese striker Dong Gook Lee just yards outside the penalty area. Stewart Downing sent his free-kick over towards the far post, where Mark Viduka suddenly appeared to toe poke the ball into the far post.
Latics twice went tantalisingly close to getting a goal themselves but it just wasn't to be. Paul Jewell's men had plenty of early pressure but had to wait until the 16th minute before getting a clear chance. Ryan Taylor's impeccable cross from the right hand side saw Lee McCulloch rise like a salmon, but his header smashed against the bar.
Taylor went extremely close towards the end of the match too, when he almost provided Latics with an important equaliser in the 80th minute when his twenty-five yard free-kick curled over the Boro defensive wall, and the ball just dipped onto the roof of the net.
Paul Jewell rang the changes with his team line up after last weeks defeat to West Ham. Emile Heskey was named captain for the day whilst Julius Aghahowa was his strike partner. Emmerson Boyce and Paul Scharner started in the centre of defence. Mike Pollitt started between the sticks, his first appearance for Latics since the corresponding fixture at the Riverside Stadium in December.
Latics started positively amongst a deafening noise from the home crowd, with the midfield duo of Landzaat and Skoko producing lots of tackles in midfield and plenty of crosses coming from Taylor and Antonio Valencia.
Heskey came close at the end of the first half as he saw his header land straight into the hands of Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer after he connected to Taylor's throw in
The tempo of the game slowed in the second half, but Aghahowa nearly levelled the scored in the 53rd minute when the ball bounced around the in the penalty area, and the former Shaktar Donetsk striker managed to get a touch but his shot was straight at Schwarzer.
Latics almost cut through the Teesiders' defence when Josip Skoko played the ball to Valencia, who looked to square the ball into the box as Heskey slid in, but the Boro 'keeper managed to gather it up.
Substitute Caleb Folan replaced Aghahowa in he second half, and nearly punished the Boro defence for not picking him up when his connected to David Unsworth's cross and saw his downward header saved by Schwarzer, whilst Heskey fired over bar in the dying secondswhich only added to an already frustrating afternoon.
At the other end of the pitch, Pollitt had to make a brilliant reaction save five minutes before half time to deny Downing whose burst of pace carried him from the left flank and into the penalty area.
Boro could have increased their advantage just after the restart when Julio Arca's long diagonal ball found Downing in the area, but the England winger dragged his shot just wide of the far post, and ten minutes later Andrew Davis headed over Pollitt's bar from Downing's corner. And Boro winger also saw his half-volley saved by the diving Pollitt with thirteen minutes remaining.
It's a disappointing result considering the bright start made by Latics, but now we must ensure that we leave Sheffield United next Sunday with all three points. Anything less, and Latics will not be in the Premiership next season.
Latics: Pollitt; Taylor, Boyce, Scharner, Baines (Unsworth 58); Valencia, Landzaat (Cotterill 65), Skoko, McCulloch; Aghahowa (Folan 68), Heskey (c).
Subs: Filan, Kilbane.
Booked: Baines, Valencia, Taylor.
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer; Davies, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Rochemback, Boateng (c) (Cattermole 77), Arca, Downing, Viduka (Euell 86), Lee (Johnson 90).
Unused Subs: Jones, Riggott.
Booked:
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
