By John May

Viduka turns away to celebrate his goal

Boro's winner had an element of luck as Stuart Downing's mis-hit free-kick turned into the perfect pass for Mark Viduka to steer home the winner.

Wigan played with plenty of spirit in the first half and Lee McCulloch headed Ryan Taylor's cross against the bar.

But they fell away after the break, and Boro might have stretched their lead had Downing squared to Viduka.

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Wigan were pumped for a must-win game and made a bright start, and Luis Antonio Valencia's early sortie down the right forced Jonathan Woodgate into action.

The Latics were prepared to chase everything in pursuit of their Premiership survival and it almost paid dividends on 18 minutes.

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Danny Landzaat's badly-sliced shot turned into a pass for Valencia who turned the ball back for Taylor to cross to the far post where McCulloch rose to power a header against the bar.

Wigan showed bucketfuls of desire but their character was provided with a test on the half hour when they fell behind to the sort of goal that questions whether Fate is intervening against them.

Referee Mark Clattenburg spotted a tug by Leighton Baines on Lee Dong-Gook, which looked harsh enough.

But that was compounded when Downing shaped to shoot from the free-kick, only to slip as he struck the ball and his spooned effort looped into the air for Viduka to react first and side-foot home from six yards.

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It was a cruel blow for Mike Pollitt, playing his first Premiership game since last May, who had otherwise been unworked.

But he passed his first test, standing firm to beat away Downing's shot as the England winger broke clear.

With five changes in the line-up, Wigan looked like a bunch of strangers at times and they contributed to their problems with a lack of communication which made for some hairy moments in defence.

Wigan could have been killed off at the start of the second half but Boro twice failed to apply the coup de grace.

Downing again avoided the offside trap but with Viduka unmarked and screaming, the England winger went for glory and blasted across goal.

The big Australian was inches away from making contact with a free-kick five yards out as Wigan's defence again nodded off in the sunshine.

Wigan's ill-fortune continued when Baines pulled up like a stricken racehorse as he tracked George Boateng, and as the Latics plugged away to get back into the game they at last got a man over, only for Valencia to plant his cross into Mark Schwarzer's arms.

Emile Heskey battled away gamely up front, but lacked support and Wigan's attacking efforts looked increasingly lightweight against Boro's solid defence.

Two substitutes combined to create a late chance for Wigan with David Unsworth picking out Caleb Folan who planted a weak header straight at Schwarzer and the Latic's hopes disappeared when Heskey blazed high and wide from 16 yards.

"The flight of the ball must tell you he had two touches but the referee and linesman missed it.

"It's out of our hands now and a win at Sheffield United might not be enough."

"Our back four and keeper were outstanding but we defended well as a team from the front.

"Wigan will probably have some complaints about the winning goal but we made our own luck today."

Wigan: Pollitt, Taylor, Boyce, Scharner, Baines (Unsworth 57), Valencia, Landzaat (Cotterill 64), Skoko, McCulloch, Heskey, Aghahowa (Folan 68).
Subs Not Used: Filan, Kilbane.

Booked: Baines, Valencia, Taylor.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Davies, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Downing, Rochemback, Boateng (Cattermole 76), Arca, Viduka (Euell 86), Lee (Johnson 90).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Riggott.

Goals: Viduka 29.

Att: 21,204