BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE – JJB STADIUM – Saturday October 4th 2008
WIGAN ATHLETIC
0-1

MIDDLESBROUGH
Aliadiere 89

Steve Bruce will be a very unhappy manager tonight as Latics squandered chance after chance, then were stung by a very late goal to go into the International break empty handed.

Middlesbrough came to the JJB Stadium with a game plan, one which is usually adopted by low league team going to the ‘top four’. They stuck 9 men behind the ball and played for the break.

They did have a couple of good chances, but lacked quality in the final third to make any impact. Latics on the other hand were very proactive and got through the defensive bank in front of them.

Zaki alone had three clear cut chances that were muffled out by last ditch blocks or saves. Heskey had a point blank shot ‘saved’ by Ross Turnbull in the Middlesbrough goal, not that he knew much about it.

Palacios had a great effort turned around the post in the first ten minutes and Kapo looked buoyant as his partner in a very strong Latics midfield.

The second half didn’t meet up to the first half’s dominance but of the few chances threat there were they fell to Latics.

Heskey and Palacios were a constant threat and both passed up golden chances to win the match, even the injection of Jason Koumas and Henri Camara couldn’t provide the illusive goal.

Both substitutes had opportunities but it was a Boro substitute, Didier Digard hoofed the ball up to Downing and he knocked the ball down for Aliadiere to place in to the bottom corner.

For all Latics pressure and dominance it has to be said that Boro’s defence were excellent, every man throwing himself in front of the ball to stop the inevitable goal.

It is for sure that Latics on another day would have won this game very comfortably, as it is we ended up being stunned by a last minute goal.

Report by Jason Taylor

Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
Attendance: 16,806
LINE UP
WIGAN ATHLETIC MIDDLESBROUGH
1 Chris Kirkland 21 Ross Turnbull
25 Mario Melchiot 5 Chris Riggott
19 Titus Bramble 2 Justin Hoyte
7 Paul Scharner 40 Jonathan Grounds
31 Maynor Figueroa 31 David Wheater
4 Lee Cattermole 4 Gary O’Neil
5 Wilson Palacios 19 Stewart Downing
23 Olivier Kapo 15 Mohamed Shawky
16 Antonio Valencia 10 Jeremie Aliadiere
9 Emile Heskey 12 Alfonso Alves
13 Amr Zaki 9 Mido
SUBS
12 Mike Pollitt 22 Brad Jones
2 Ryan Taylor 28 Adam Johnson
10 Jason Koumas 36 John Johnson
11 Michael Brown 8 Didier Digard
18 Daniel de Ridder 41 Josh Walker
8 Kevin Kilbane 42 Tom Craddock
27 Henri Camara 11 Marvin Emnes
TIMELINE
37′ Yellow Card Amr Zaki
39′ Yellow Card Lee Cattermole
57′ Yellow Card Paul Scharner
58′ Player Off Mohamed Shawky
Player On Didier Digard
67′ Player Off Olivier Kapo
Player On Jason Koumas
79′ Player Off Alfonso Alves
Player On Adam Johnson
81′ Player Off Amr Zaki
Player On Henri Camara
85′ Player Off Wilson Palacios
Player On Daniel de Ridder
89′ Goal Jeremie Aliadiere