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After falling behind to Henri Camara's penalty, Middlesbrough roused themselves, with Wigan distracted by the head injury to Chris Kirkland that brought paramedics to their dressing-room during the interval.
The goalkeeper was taken to hospital after suffering a delayed reaction to a collision with David Wright, his team-mate, before being released yesterday. Viduka, recovered from a broken toe, played a pivotal role in Yakubu Ayegbeni's equaliser and, by the end, Paul Jewell's team were clinging on. “It feels like we have lost,” George Boateng, the Middlesbrough captain, said.
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Mark Schwarzer, the Middlesbrough goalkeeper, produced a series of breathtaking saves to keep his team in contention and Wigan's midfielder Kevin Kilbane later insisted: "We deserved to go in at half-time two or three goals up.
"Schwarzer made a couple of outstanding saves and I don't how he kept Paul and Henri at bay. Chris made one or two vital stops too but we were always on top." Kirkland was admitted to a Teesside hospital with concussion after colliding with a team-mate towards the end of the first half.
Although the England international initially recovered, he collapsed in the dressing room at half-time and required oxygen and a neck brace."Chris is very unlucky with his injuries but on this occasion I think he's been quite fortunate," said the Wigan manager, Paul Jewell. "He might even be OK to face Arsenal on Wednesday."
The Sun
Middlesbrough 1 Wigan 1
Boro could thank keeper Mark Schwarzer they were only a goal down at the break. He could do nothing about Henri Camara's penalty but made brilliant stops to keep out Paul Scharner, Camara and Leighton Baines.
But after the interval it was a different story. Yakubu equalised past replacement keeper Mike Pollitt and Boro should have won. overnight with concussion after his head struck a team-mate's knee in a goalmouth scramble.
Boss Paul Jewell said: “It was a concerning time and there might have been thoughts for him — but I don't want to use it as an excuse."
The Mirror
Middlesbrough 1 Wigan 1
It took three world-class saves from Mark Schwarzer to keep Boro in the game before half-time, after which Wigan were distracted by the half-time collapse of keeper Chris Kirkland in the dressing-room.
Wigan now face a tough run of fixtures that will be a true test of their ambitions. Manager Paul Jewell said: "We've now got Arsenal, Chelsea, Sheffield United and then Manchester United. "I think 22 points from 16 games is a decent return for us because this year I feel the league will be more competitive, more open.
We know who the top four are going to be, but from fifth down to 17th, 18th and 19th I think it's going to be open, more so than last season."
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