LIKE a sculptor chipping away at a huge stone block, Steve Bruce is gradually giving Wigan a discernable shape. We aren’t talking Michelangelo yet, but you can see a certain style developing. He has already filed off the rougher edges, and is buffing as he goes along.

Of course, the odd slip of the chisel still occurs occasionally. Wigan had taken just three points from their previous five matches, and yesterday’s grim, unmemorable draw hardly qualifies as a work of fine art. But Wigan are sturdy and stubbornly difficult to beat now, which hasn’t always been the case, so challenging hard for a place in Europe isn’t entirely beyond them.

Even from a tatty, terribly ordinary match, Bruce had the satisfaction of not leaving the Riverside empty-handed. It is difficult to identify what, if anything, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate can cite as a consolation from the untidy performance he saw. Middlesbrough aren’t merely struggling for survival, they are straining to give a decent account of themselves. And time is rapidly draining away.

Middlesbrough haven’t scored for five Premier League games. Nothing seemed likely to change that glum pattern. The closest was an edge-of-the-box shot from Stewart Downing in the first half, which skidded the turf, then bent late before Chris Kirkland flicked it to safety. Wigan weren’t much better. When Hugo Rodallega was left with only Brad Jones to beat, he lifted his shot too high. “We still showed tremendous resilence,” said Bruce.

The only other debating point was the 18th-minute challenge from Lee Cattermole that ended with Didier Digard being carried off. Digard let the ball run loose, and Cattermole took it cleanly and legitimately with a tenacious lunge. As they collided, Digard fell and damaged his thigh.

Southgate has one important thing going for him. Steve Gibson counts as one of the most patient and pragmatic of chairmen. There are no panicky gestures, and no sign that Southgate will be pushed into the dole queue. Gibson is gritting his teeth through the short-term pain. It may be Middlesbrough’s best hope.

Star man: Emmerson Boyce (Wigan)

Yellow cards: Middlesbrough: Alves, O’Neil Wigan: Watson, Cattermole, Kapo, Zaki

Referee: M Dean

Attendance: 24,020

MIDDLESBROUGH: Jones 7, Hoyte 7, Huth 7, Wheater 7, Pogatetz 7, Johnson 6 (Tuncay 62min), O’Neil 7, Digard 7 (Walker 22min, 7), Arca 6 (Aliadiere 53min, 7), Downing 7, Alves 7

WIGAN ATHELTIC: Kirkland 7, Melchiot 7, Boyce 8, Bramble 7, Figueroa 7, Watson 7, Brown 7, Catttermole 7, N’Zogbia 7, Kapo 6 (Rodallega 63min), Zaki 7 (Sibierski 75min)