Middlesbrough 0 Wigan 0
With the transfer window set to shut in two day’s time,
Boro’s ongoing search for a goal scoring centre forward is beginning to reach a
critical stage.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out where Boro’s weaknesses
are when their four recognized strikers have only scored seven goals between
them all season. That’s less than winger and current top scorer Albert Adomah
alone who has already netted nine times this campaign.
| Shay Given Boro makes it six clean sheet's in eight games |
Last night’s goalless draw at home to Wigan Athletic was
another game Boro could and probably should have won, but just like their 2-0
defeat at top of the table Leicester on Saturday they lacked the required fire
power upfront, passing up decent opportunities when they arose.
It was a match which nether side will have fond memories of,
especially Boro centre back Rhys Williams who suffered an Achilles injury
minutes before half time meaning he could miss the remainder of the season.
"The game was not a good one for us. It
was difficult as Wigan are a good team”. Said Karanka after the match.
"We did not play
with personality and we did not do enough to win the game. But when you cannot
win a game it is important that you do not lose it."
The result and performance in general should prompt a return
to the drawing board for Boro, after taking a remarkable 16 points out of 18
over the Christmas period, they have now taken just 1 from the last 6 leaving
them seven points off the final playoff position.
Under Karanka, Boro’s defence has transformed into one of
the best in the league, this was Boro’s fourth straight clean sheet at home for
the first time in over a decade. However at the other end their lack of offence
currently looks the difference between Boro and the top six.
Karanka made two changes from the side that started at Leicester,
sticking with his traditional 4-2-3-1 formation. Lukas Jutkiewitz had since
completed a loan move to Bolton until the end of the season so Curtis Main
replaced him as the lone striker.
The other change saw Adomah, who had been carrying an ankle
injury at the weekend, start on the bench making way for Marvin Emnes.
FA Cup holders Wigan are still in with a chance of defending
that title this year, after a fourth round win over Crystal Palace. Their manager Uwe Rosler made four changes
from that match, James McArthur, James McClean
and Nicky Maynard all dropped to the bench while Callum McManaman missed out
altogether.
Their replacements were Stephen Crainey, Chris McCann, Marc-Antoine
Fortune and Nick Powell.
It
was a bright start from Boro, straight from the kickoff Main robbed the ball
off Wigan defender Leon Barnett on the left. However the striker lacked support
and his cross was easily cleared.
The
hosts spent large parts of the first half boxed in their own half, as Wigan bolstered
a healthy looking attack and weren’t afraid to venture forward when they had
the chance. Their best opportunity of the half came from Ben Watson’s free
kick, which fell at the feet of Chris McCann, however Williams was alert to block
a goal bound shot.
Boro’s
best chance to score appeared to be from a set piece, as they lacked bodies in
the attacking third in open play. On seventeen minutes Ledesma’s dipping free
kick forced the first save from Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi low to his left hand
side.
It
took until the twenty-seventh minute before the game finally sprung into life
due to Mustapha Carayol who cut in from the left to curl a low shot inches wide
of the near post. A minute later Carayol was the provider for Main, whose shot
was on target but comfortably into the grasp of Al Habsi.
On
thirty two minutes it looked like Boro had broken through when Ledesma’s in
swinging corner was flicked goal bound by the head of Daniel Ayala, a few of
the home fans thought it had found the net, only to be disappointed when it
rebounded off the far post.
The
misery began to pile on Boro when Williams when down near the centre circle,
after a lengthy delay he was carried off on a stretcher with a reported long
team Achilles injury.
After
the break it was Carayol again who provided the spark, five minutes after the
re-start his cross along the ground was towards Main in the box but he couldn’t
beat the back tracking Wigan defender who turned it behind for a corner.
A
double substitution on the hour mark saw Emnes make way for Adomah. For Wigan
Watson and Marc-Antoine Fortune were replaced
by MacArthur and ex-Sunderland winger McLean who received a chorus of boos.
It was Boro who continued to look the most likely to break
the deadlock, Carayol again picked out Main, who this time had space in the
area but blazed it over the cross bar.
Wigan could have stolen the game late on. Mclean was lively
on the right and twice fired over the bar after promising runs.
The highlight of the match came with fifteen minutes
remaining when Stephen Crainey’s shot from the edge of the Boro penalty area
was deflected forcing Boro keeper Shay Given to change direction just tipping the
ball over the cross bar. It wasn’t the first time the chant “there’s only one
Shay Given!” resounded through the crowd.
Minutes later Given was on hand to make a more routine save
from Nick Powell’s header. However the game remained goalless resulting in Boro’s
first 0-0 of the season. It’s not a result they’ll want to experience that
often especially at home.
Player Ratings
Shay Given 7- Not
much to do in the first half, came up with two vital saves after half time to
keep Boro in the game
George Friend 6- Tried
to join in with attacks when he could, struggled against Mclean in second half
Rhys Williams 6- Stretchered
off before half time could miss rest of the season with a Achilles injury
Daniel Ayala 6.5 – Not
a great deal to do at the back, came close to scoring with first half header,
Jozsef Varga 6- Made
a few mistakes at right back as Boro sat deep
Dean Whitehead 6-
Kept shape in midfield but made a few loose passes
Grant Leadbitter (C)
6.5- Core of the side in midfield, keeping team going
Mustapha
Carayol 7- Boro’s best weapon using his pace to get forward down the left
Emmanuel
Ledesma 6- Set pieces looked dangerous, but dipped in and out of the
game
Marvin
Emnes 5- Had little impact on
the game upfront
Curtis Main 5.5-
Worked hard but received little support and missed decent opportunities
Subs
Ben Gibson 6.5- Replaced Williams before half time,
solid at the back
Albert Adomah 6- Came
on with 30 minutes to go as Boro searched for a winner
Kei Kamara- Came on with 10 minutes to go not enough time to
give a fair rating
My Boro Man Of Match: Shay Given
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