Patrick Bamford's first-half strike proved to be the difference at the Riverside Stadium, as Middlesbrough overcome Wigan Athletic 1-0 to climb to the top of the Championship table.
The game failed to truly spring into life throughout, with the Englishman's deflected effort from the edge of the box on 20 minutes the only real moment of magic.
Wigan, who remain five points from safety at the wrong end of the table, had just one shot on target - substitute Marc-Antoine Fortune's effort being pushed aside by Dimi Konstantopolous shortly after the hour mark.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded in the North-East with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship clash between Middlesbrough and Wigan Athletic at the Riverside Stadium.
We have a huge Easter Weekend of football action ahead of us, and come Monday evening the picture could perhaps look a little clearer at both ends of the table. These two sides head into this Good Friday fixture sitting at opposite ends of the table; the hosts looking to claim top spot with a win while the Latics can claw themselves closer to safety with a victory of their own.
Kickoff in the North-East is less than 30 minutes away, so let's get straight into things by taking a look at some team news..
TEAM NEWS!
MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Konstantopoulos, Kalas, Woodgate, Gibson, Friend, Adomah, Clayton, Leadbitter, Reach, Vossen, Bamford
WIGAN ATHLETIC XI: Al Habsi, Maguire, McClean, Pennant, Kim, Boyce, Bong, Clarke, Perch, Murphy, Pearce
Starting with the visiting side, then, and Malky Mackay has opted to make just the one change to his starting lineup for this afternoon's trip to the Riverside Stadium. James McClean comes back into the fold following his recent suspension, with Marc-Antoine Fortune the man to make way.
Fortune was always likely to start this one on the bench, having scored just one goal in 28 appearances this term, although there is no place for Martyn Waghorn in the side following his last-gasp goal against rivals Bolton Wanderers last time out. That could prove to be a huge point for Mackay's men, but only if they can build on it in the remaining seven games of the campaign - starting with a positive result in the North-East this afternoon.
The big news as far as Boro are concerned is that Jonathan Woodgate slots back into the centre of defence for this huge match. The former England international was left out completely prior to the international break, but he made clear to his manager in the week that he is fully fit, and Aitor Karanka has given him the nod to start in the heart of the Boro backline.
Daniel Ayala is still not fit enough to return to action, meaning Woodgate will partner youngster Ben Gibson at the back. The only other change sees Jelle Vossen replace Emilio Nsue in attack, as Karanka names a familiar looking lineup which includes the in-form Patrick Bamford in an advanced role.
BENCH WATCH!
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Ripley, Kike, Tomlin, Whitehead, Amorebieta, Tiendalli, Forshaw
WIGAN ATHLETIC SUBS: Carson, McCann, Ojo, Barnett, Fortune, Waghorn, Kvist
Middlesbrough have included loan signings Dwight Tiendalli and Fernando Amorebieta among their backups for this afternoon's game, meaning that the pair will have to wait a little while longer to make their debuts in a Boro shirt. Wigan, meanwhile, can call upon the aforementioned Fortune in attack, as well as Waghorn who will also be on a high following his goalscoring exploits against Bolton a fortnight ago.
Kickoff is a little over 10 minutes away now, meaning that there is still just enough time to check out what the Sports Mole Sofa team make of today's game:
Well Boro will be eager to get going this afternoon following their damaging 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth prior to the international break. Their recent form has not been great in truth, but the bottom line remains that, with seven games left to play, they are well positioned to break into the automatic promotion zone once more. With top-two Watford and Bournemouth not due to play until later today, the incentive is there for Karanka's charges to claim top spot with all three points.
The Smoggies have a tough run of fixtures coming up, with three of the division's top eight sides to come after this one, and the pressure is also on to improve their goal difference. In what is the tightest Championship promotion race ever (and that really is saying something!) just three goals is the difference between Watford and Boro. It will be a cruel blow if Boro were to miss out on the Premier League by the virtue of having scored a goal less than the Hornets, so that will be in the back of their mind heading into this game.
Wigan have given themselves real hope of surviving the drop in recent weeks, meanwhile, winning three of their last six games to claw themselves within five points of the drop zone. That may seem like a hefty deficit to make up at this stage, but I'm sure many Latics supporters would have taken that a few weeks back. As long as Rotherham keep losing games and Mackay's men keep picking up the odd point, then the great escape really could be on.
One of the Latics' biggest problems this season - and there have been a fair few in truth - is their lack of goalscoring prowess. Only two other sides boast a worse record in front of goal in the entire division, and up against a Middlesbrough side who have by far and away the best defensive record in the division, it could be a hurdle too far for them to overcome this afternoon.
DID YOU KNOW? Middlesbrough have won eight of their last nine games at the Riverside Stadium, and tasted defeat just once in 16 outings here, making their home record the best in the division. Meanwhile, Wigan have won four-in-a-row away from home, and are today going in search of a club-record equalling fifth victory on the bounce.
Both sets of players are now out onto the field, with kickoff just a matter of seconds away in the North-East:
KICKOFF! Right, here we go then on another afternoon of huge Championship action. Boro can climb to the top of the table with a victory here, while Wigan are desperately fighting for their lives at the opposite end of the table.
The last four meetings between these sides have ended in a draw, so history suggests we are in for a tight and tense affair. Wigan's last win against today's opponents came back in a Premier League tie back in 2007, so they will need to dig deep to rectify that here today.
Boro have dominated these early stages, without really troubling the Wigan backline too much. The Latics seem happy to sit back and soak up the pressure at the moment - a tactic which hasn't worked too badly for them on the road in recent times.
A very slow start to the game, which has still yet to spark into life. I was going to suggest that the onus is on Boro to make something happen, but with time running out Wigan will probably be targeting three points themselves. The Latics have showed signs that they will look to hit their opponents on the break whenever the opportunity arises.
Best piece of play of the game so far by quite some distance. Bamford very nearly found some space inside the area to get a shot away, but Wigan were rushing around at the back to close down any sort of shooting angle. Boro eventually worked the ball out to Adomah on the right, and his cross flashed right across the face of goal.
So Boro very much on top in the opening 12 minutes or so of the contest, but they have still yet to test Al-Habsi between the sticks. The hosts cannot penetrate the Wigan backline, as Clayton's cross is well cut out by Pearce in the latest Smoggies attack.
Wigan earn themselves a corner kick which Pennant swings in from the right-hand side, although his delivery was rather poor and well out of reach of any of his teammates to attack. Still no chances of note yet for either side.
It's been a very frustrating start for the Middlesbrough fans, who are here in their numbers today. They key is surely to remain patient and wait for gaps to open up, but before then they must find their passing groove.
Still no goals in any of the games across the Championship this afternoon, incidentally, so we're not alone. Let's just hope the action on the field at the Riverside livens up. In terms of tactics, Wigan appear to be lining up in a 4-4-2 formation, with McClean partnering Clarke up front.
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 WIGAN ATHLETIC (BAMFORD)
This game has finally seen some action in front of goal! It took a while to come to life, but Patrick Bamford's 17th goal of the campaign has seen Boro take the lead. Wigan actually had a half-chance of their own up the other end when Konstantopolous failed to deal with a lofted free kick into the box, but Best couldn't quite connect with the ball. The Smoggies then hit their opponents on the break, and Adomah's pass found its way into the path of Bamford who struck into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
SAVE! The shot appeared to take a little deflection on its way through just to make sure Al-Habsi couldn't get there, so Boro can be thankful for that bit of luck. Bamford was unlucky not to double his personal tally for the afternoon a few moments ago when he looked to pick out the bottom corner with a curler, which Al-Habsi this time did manage to turn away.
YELLOW CARD! Harry Maguire earns the first caution of the match for bringing down an opponent. Wigan now have to come out of their shells a little following that earlier setback.
Patrick Bamford is very much a man in form heading into the final stretch of the season:
Wigan's best hope of finding a route back into this game appears to be from a set piece, but the deliveries haven't quite been all there so far. Konstantopolous did drop that earlier lofted ball into the area, so he can certainly be targeted.
Wigan are really struggling to keep a hold of the ball at the moment, even with Boro stepping off somewhat. The Smoggies are in control, and they could have had a second following some nice play by Adomah - this time on the left - although the Latics just about managed to clear the ball away when it came into the area.
A long, hopeful punt up field flies over the head of Vossenn, who felt he was being held to the ground by Pearce. There was next to nothing in it, though, as the game once more goes a little flat. Just the two shots on target so far, both of which have come via the boot of Bamford.
Adomah, who is enjoying a really lively game in wide areas, swings in a near-perfect cross which Wigan again do just about enough to clear. But only as far as Bamford who attempts to take the ball down before getting a shot away, although he couldn't quite control it inside the area.
Bar a three-minute spell earlier in the game, this has been a poor advert for Championship football. It could be argued that both sides are 'weighing each other up', but with half time less than 10 minutes away that doesn't appear to be the case. Still just the one Patrick Bamford goal in it, as Boro push forward once more.
Wigan have shown the odd glimpse that they have a goal in them this afternoon, yet they have not done near enough to warrant anything heading into the interval. McClean looked to hook the ball back into the centre of the box, with nobody in a yellow and blue strip gambling.
CHANCE! A rare opening for Boro as Friend bursts into the box from the left, but his cut-back is well cut out at the front post by Pearce. It was hardly a big chance, yet in a game of so few impressive moments in front of goal, this has to be considered a real opportunity passed for the home side to double their lead.
SHOT! Boro are ending this half by far the stronger side, as Clayton unleashes a strike from around 25 yards out. It took a big deflection off Pearce in front of goal to deflect it wide, although Al-Habsi probably had it covered even if it did go right the way through. Incidentally, Perch received a yellow card just prior to that attack for a mistimed challenge.
Wigan have still yet to test the Boro stopper on a single occasion, and while Boro have edged things they certainly need to up things themselves in the second half.
HALF TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 WIGAN ATHLETIC
So Boro head into the break holding onto a slender one-goal lead, which came via Bamford's strike on the 20-minute mark. That aside, we have seen next to nothing in front of goal, with a second Bamford effort which was turned behind by Al-Habsi the closest we have come to seeing a second.
That said, the Smoggies did appear to be turning the screw a little in the closing few minutes of the half, and Adomah has also delivered an array of top-quality deliveries from wide positions, so their lead is more than merited at this stage. Wigan, on the other hand, have not had a single shot in the opening 45 minutes, with their best hope of making a breakthrough seemingly coming through the means of a set-piece.
UPDATES: Elsewhere in the Championship this afternoon, fellow strugglers Rotherham United are heading for an eighth defeat in their last 11 outings to keep Wigan's survival hopes alive, while Brentford lead Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage. Watford and Bournemouth are not in action until later this evening, remember, so as things stand Boro top the table.
BENCH WATCH!
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Ripley, Kike, Tomlin, Whitehead, Amorebieta, Tiendalli, Forshaw
WIGAN ATHLETIC SUBS: Carson, McCann, Ojo, Barnett, Fortune, Waghorn, Kvist
A quick reminder of the two sets of subs, then, as we edge closer to the second-half restart at the Riverside Stadium. Karanka will know that his side have to up their game if they are to see it out and claim all three points, while the onus is now on the visitors to actually put together a few attacking moves at the very least.
RESTART! Middlesbrough get the second half underway in the North-East, and there is news on one half-time change to bring you. Fortune has been introduced in place of Murphy, meaning that Wigan are likely to be going with two out-and-out strikers for the remainder.
Clarke very nearly got the better of Gibson in a wide area which would have allowed him to burst through on goal, but the official on the far side adjudged that the forward brought down his opponent illegally before winning the ball.
Vossen tests Al-Habsi with a decent effort from range, but the flag was already up on the far side. A livelier start to the second half compared to the first, which will hopefully continue for the remainder.
Bamford has just collected the Howler of the Day award for his miscued cross from the left-hand side, which ended up high into the stands rather than in the Wigan box.
An interesting one, this, as Reach just about gets to the ball before Maguire before being sent flying. He accused his opposite number of diving, but the referee disagreed. He's avoided a second yellow card regardless.
Leadbitter opts to shoot from the free kick, which is around 40 yards out, but the effort was never likely to test Al-Habsi between the sticks.
CHANCE! A good opportunity for Boro to essentially wrap-up the points passes them by as Adomah fails to get the right connection on his shot at the back post. Reach had initially picked out Vossen, who then passed it on to Adomah, but he couldn't make the most of the chance from 10 yards out.
The hosts are really knocking on the door for a second, with Wigan living more and more dangerously since the restart. A second change is surely on the card for Mackay's side, or else it could be game over very soon.
YELLOW CARD! McClean feels aggrieved to have enter the referee's book - and rightly so. He appeared to win the ball before bringing down an opposition player, but referee Stuart Atwell saw things differently from his position.
A little over 23,000 inside the Riverside Stadium this afternoon, although they have not been given a great deal to cheer thus far:
YELLOW CARD! Another booking, which this time goes to a Boro player. Gibson brought down McClean on the break, leaving the referee with little choice.
WIGAN SUB: Martyn Waghorn replaced Leon Clarke, with less than 30 minutes now left to play at the Riverside. Can that change spark the visitors into life?
SAVE! What a huge moment in this game, as Wigan test Konstantopolous for the first time this afternoon! Fortune brought down a pass fantastically with his first touch, which allowed him to curl a shot towards the bottom corner, only for the Boro stopper to stretch across and turn it aside.
CHANCE! Wigan have finally burst into life, and they perhaps should be level. Just moments after that big stop from Konstantopolous, Pennant lashed a shot narrowly wide of goal on the end of a strong attack from the visiting side. McClean burst beyond Kalas down the left and swung in a cross which Boro failed to deal with. Kim latched on to it and played in Pennant, but the former Liverpool man could not connect properly.
WIGAN SUB: A third and final change for Wigan, with William Kvist replacing Jermaine Pennant. Mackay has now rolled the dice for the last time, but will it be enough?
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Vossen has been replaced by Lee Tomlin, as Karanka makes his first change. Wigan are very much on top now, with Perch trying his luck from range a few moments ago, so that sub may help break things up a little.
SAVE! We may have seen a terribly bland first half, but thankfully this second period has been much improved. This time it's Boro who had a chance to add the game's second goal, Tomlin opening up his body to get a shot on target only for Al-Habsi to deny the substitute with his feet.
Friend fails to pick out Bamford when in acres of space to get a cross into the box, but when the ball came back into the area, Maguire got his simple header back to Al-Habsi all wrong to concede a corner. The set piece was worked to Tomlin, who saw his effort blocked away on the edge of the box.
This game remains very much in the balance, then, as we head into the final 15 minutes. Boro have been the better team overall, and certainly deserve their lead, but Wigan have looked much improved in this second half. A potentially decisive final third to this game which will have an effect at both ends of the table.
YELLOW CARD! Substitute Waghorn becomes the latest to earn a yellow for his effort. Boro fans are urging their team on towards another goal, but it doesn't look likely to be coming if the last 20 minutes or so are anything to go by.
SAVE! Bamford searches for that bottom corner again with a curled attempt, but Al-Habsi pushes it aside for a corner. Replays show that the initial shot was going well wide of goal, although the Latics stopper was taking no chances.
Things have gone awfully flat again following that brief spell of Wigan pressure. They have seemingly gone back into their shells again as we head into the final nine minutes. Watford and Bournemouth supporters will be watching closely right now, because Boro are heading for the top.
CHANCE! McClean has just spurned a glorious chance from around seven yards out, which could prove to be another nail in Wigan's coffin. The ball came into the winger's path at the back post area, but he just seemed to have too much time to think about his volley which he completely miscued in the end.
I expected much more from this contest in truth. With both sides in real need of the points for differing reasons, an end-to-end contest was to be expected, but it has been flat for 85% of the contest. Boro have been the better side, and bar a brief five-minute spell, Wigan have not looked like scoring.
Adomah lofts a tasty-looking cross into a central area which Reach looks likely to head home, but Al-Habsi plucked the ball out of the air at full reach to deny the Boro man.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Bamford's goal is looking increasingly likely to be the difference here, and he is replaced on the 89-minute mark. Kike is on for the final throes of this contest.
The Smoggies fluff a chance to break, with a poor pass into the attacking third seeing their move come to and end. It is all Boro at the moment, despite the visitors having just four minutes of added time to salvage a point.
Bong gets himself into all sorts of trouble at the back, eventually passing the ball back to Al-Habsi but leaving his keeper short. His clearance was weak and Boro looked likely to roll the ball into an empty net, but the referee felt that Reach had tripped to Wigan stopper.
YELLOW CARD! Much like the large majority of this game, Wigan can't get a hold of the ball for more than a few seconds. Clayton has just gone into the book for a dangerous challenge, yet time is fast running out for the Latics now.
CHANCE! Plenty of gaps opening up for Boro now, and the fresh legs of Tomlin very nearly exposes the visitors. He burst through clean on goal, but failed to get his shot on target at the end of the strong run. It shouldn't matter too much.
FULL TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 WIGAN ATHLETIC
So there we have it - Middlesbrough top the Championship table courtesy of a slender 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic. Patrick Bamford's deflected strike from range, his 17th of the season, proved to be the difference at the Riverside, as the Smoggies continue their march towards the Premier League. Malky Mackay's side, meanwhile, are now fast running out of time to make up the five-point deficit they face inside the bottom three.
That's all from me for the time being, but be sure to stick around as we bring you full match reports from every game from across the Championship this afternoon, as well as coverage of the huge games at the top later this evening. Thanks for joining!
