STEVE BRUCE’S assessment that his team was “well and truly mugged” had considerable merit, for Wigan dominated this game territorially and did everything except score. But the towering performances were delivered by Chris Riggott and his fellow centre-half, David Wheater, along with the Middlesbrough goalkeeper, Ross Turnbull, who combined to thwart the best efforts of Emile Heskey, Wilson Palacios and Amr Zaki, leaving Jeremie Aliadiere to steal the glory in the penultimate minute and secure Middlesbrough’s first away win of the calendar year.

“The irony is that we had far fewer chances today than we had in our past few games, but the difference is that we scored from one,” said Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager. “There were some excellent performances from our back five, including the goalkeeper, who is under the spotlight because he is only 23. It was the type of game in which centre- halves get the opportunity to do their job and to stand out. Both of them are good in the air and they did this well. Mentally, the whole team was strong and we got a result we deserved.”

Wigan started off full of ambition and bravado. The link-up play between the attacking quintet of Heskey and fellow striker Zaki, Palacios through the middle and Antonio Valencia and Olivier Kapo on the flanks was pacy and precise. They threatened to pass the ball all the way through their visitors, and only resolute defending by Riggott, Wheater and Jon Grounds prevented these crafty attacks from counting for more.

A one-two on the edge of the penalty area between Palacios and Heskey, who was watched by England coach Fabio Capello, seemed to prise open the visitors’ rearguard, but Riggott made a vital interception. A Heskey flick-on from a goal kick quickly followed, creating space on the edge of the area for Palacios, but, from a narrowing angle as he raced in, the Honduran shot wide. The movement of Palacios and Zaki, in particular, on the edge of the area confused Boro and created space for Valencia and Maynor Figueroa on the overlap to measure quality crosses into the box. Valencia whipped in a free kick that Titus Bramble headed on at the near post; Zaki, accelerating into the space at the back, fired into the netting.

Had Mido shown the same eagerness to get on the ball as his fellow Egyptian, Zaki, he might have been on the end of a pass that Aliadiere cut back from the byline. He might have done better, too, with a Stewart Downing cross from the left, had he controlled the ball on his chest rather than heading well over the crossbar from the range of a born optimist.

The on-loan Zaki, known as the Egyptian Gladiator, was more like a matador, such was the intelligence of his movement. One run across the box created space into which Palacios passed the ball before Zaki shot over from an acute angle.

Yet for all of Wigan’s possession, endeavour and skill, it was Middlesbrough who produced perhaps the best chance of the half when a floated cross by Mido on the left landed perfectly for Wheater in the box. But although the defender outjumped Bramble, he directed his header wide of the far post.

A combination of Wheater’s deflection and Turnbull’s diving save thwarted another shot by Zaki from the edge of the area just before the interval, and Palacios ought to have hit the target shortly after the restart when a shot by Valencia ricocheted into his path.

Poise in front of goal was all that Wigan lacked. Heskey controlled a high, hopeful ball into the area on his chest and made the shooting angle with a sharp turn, but he was off target with his left foot.

There were chances at both ends, but a stalemate seemed inevitable, until Middlesbrough break again. Didier Digard crossed from the right, Downing cushioned a header into Aliadiere’s path and the 24-year-old Frenchman fired his left-footed shot inside Chris Kirkland’s left post. “We defended well all game but we have gone to sleep at the end,” said Bruce. “Sometimes you don’t get what you deserve and we just got caught by a horrible sucker punch.”

That Boro were still standing when they delivered it ought to concentrate Wigan minds on where they need to land their own blows.

WIGAN ATHLETIC: Kirkland 6, Melchiot 6, Scharner 6, Bramble 6, Figueroa 7, Valencia 7, Cattermole 6, Palacios 8 (De Ridder 85min), Kapo 7 (Koumas 68min, 7), Zaki 7 (Camara 81min), Heskey 7

MIDDLESBROUGH: Turnbull 7, Hoyte 6, Riggott 8, Wheater 8, Grounds 7, Aliadiere 7, O’Neil 6, Shawky 6 (Digard 59min, 6), Downing 6, Mido 6, Alves 6 (Johnson 79min)

STAR MAN: Chris Riggott (Middlesbrough)

Wigan (4-4-2): Kirkland 6, Melchiot 6, Scharner 6, Bramble 6, Figueroa 7, Valencia 7, Cattermole 6, Palacios 8 (De Ridder 85), Kapo 7 (Koumas 68, 7), Zaki 7 (Camara 81), Heskey 7 Booked: Zaki 37, Cattermole 39

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Turnbull 7, Hoyte 6, Riggott 8, Wheater 8, Grounds 7, Aliadiere 7, Neil 6, Shawky 6 (Digard 59, 6), Downing 6, Mido 6, Alves 6 (Johnson 79, 5) Goal: Aliadiere 89 Referee: M Atkinson (Yorkshire) Attendance: 16,806