Middlesbrough moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Wigan at the Riverside.
Aliadiere strike enough to secure crucial win
Middlesbrough moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Wigan at the Riverside.
A first-half goal from Jeremie Aliadiere was enough to secure the three points for the hosts in a scrappy encounter that lacked quality.
Aliadiere latched onto a through-ball from Stuart Downing in the 20th minute and smashed the ball past Kirkland from a tight angle, although the Wigan stopper will feel he should have done better in front of the watching Fabio Capello.
Wigan threatened in patches during the second half and Heskey was denied by a wonderful save from Mark Schwarzer, but on the evening the hosts were good value for their win after a dominant first-half display.
In the early stages, the visitors could barely contain Gareth Southgate's side and, despite fielding new signing Marlon King alongside Marcus Bent and Heskey in an attacking line-up, offered little up front.
King joined Wigan in a £5million switch from Watford after a move to Fulham collapsed this week but he was given little to feed on in a low-key debut.
Heskey also had a quiet night in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello.
Chances
On the other hand, prospective Middlesbrough signing Afonso Alves will relish life on Teesside judging by the number of chances Boro created for their forwards.
Aliadiere was a handful throughout and Wigan will have been glad to see the back of Boro top scorer Tuncay Sanli, who tormented them before leaving the field injured after half an hour.
Yet his replacement Mido, now fit again after being sidelined since October, helped maintain the home side's dominance.
The Latics were in trouble within moments of the kick-off as Julio Arca took advantage of a Paul Scharner slip to play in Aliadiere but the former Arsenal man shot across the face of goal.
Wigan were fortunate to escape again moments later as Tuncay jinked into the area and turned Scharner inside out but his deft shot just clipped goalkeeper Chris Kirkland and went wide.
Scharner, remaining in the thick of the action, then produced a timely interception to deny Aliadiere a certain goal.
Tuncay again had been at the heart of a fine move in setting Stewart Downing free down the right but his cross, seemingly inch-perfect for Aliadiere to score, was cut out as Scharner slid in.
Tuncay himself should have scored after 15 minutes but he side-footed wide from Aliadiere's pass.
Wigan did not look strong enough contain the hosts much longer and the inevitable happened after 18 minutes as Aliadiere latched onto a long ball and finished superbly.
It nearly got worse for Wigan almost immediately as Tuncay then diverted a Downing shot narrowly wide.
The best Wigan could muster in the opening half-hour was a long-range shot from Bent but Schwarzer saved comfortably.
Boro suffered a blow before the interval as Tuncay was forced from the field with what looked like a hamstring injury. Mido, now fit after being sidelined since October, was brought on to replace him.
Departure
Tuncay's departure initially robbed Boro of some of their impetus but they finished the half strongly as Mido scuffed a shot wide and David Wheater headed a Downing free-kick over.
Boro maintained the momentum at the start of the second period and Aliadiere was inches away from turning in a Mido cross. Titus Bramble's clearance was far from convincing but at least effective.
Boro came back and indecision in the Wigan area almost let in Mido as Scharner failed to clear and Kirkland dropped the ball but the referee blew for a push.
Bramble almost slid into his own goalkeeper as Gary O'Neil delivered another dangerous cross but Kirkland was not put off and did well to save.
Wigan were barely troubling Boro aside from forcing a couple of corners through deflected Jason Koumas and Heskey shots.
They finally found some life as the game headed towards a conclusion but Schwarzer produced a fine save to keep out a powerful Heskey header.
Frustration began to creep in late on and a plethora of rash challenges from both sides ended with a booking for Heskey.
The game ended in scrappy fashion but Boro left the field satisfied with a win that gives them a five-point cushion over tonight's opponents.
