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BORO ground out a low thriklls goalless draw in a match that was far from a Riverside classic.
They had the best of the few chances in a lack-lustre game but still had Shay Given to thank for a one handed save in the second half as they earned a solid point against in-form Wigan and clocked up a fourth successive clean sheet at home for the first time in a decade.
Boro made two changes as Marvin Emnes returned in place of Albert Adomah and Curtis Main started up front in place of Lukas Jutkiewicz just hours after he sealed his loan exit to Bolton.
There was a scrappy start with half chances at both ends as first Wigan's Fortune then Boro's Ledesma curled tentative efforts well wide.
Wigan showed first on seven minutes as Watson curled to back post where McCann's effort was charged down.
Then they went close again on eight minutes as Powell pulled it back to the edge of the box for McCann to stab in a shot that clipped unsuspecting George Friend on the side of the head and spun out for a corner.
Boro's first real chance came on 14 minutes as Mustapha Carayol sent Emnes dancing down the inside left channel and into the box but when he squared inside into the path of Main the last defender Boyce stretched to cut it out.
Then on 18 minutes they won a free-kick 25 yards out to the right of the box but Emmanuel Ledesma's well struck waist high effort brought a good save at the near post.
Wigan pressed again on 21 minutes as a quick slotted pass by Powell sent Fortune surging into the Boro box but alert Ayala tracked his run and put in a well timed tackle as the striker cut inside to find an angle for the shot.
The visitors then had a good spell of patient possession in the Boro half but whenever they tried to pick a way into the box the ball was dealt with in no-nonsense fashion.
But Boro almost carved out the opener on 28 minutes as Grant Leadbitter pushed out to Friend on the left and he skipped past a challenge then sent Carayol scything in to the edge of the box to send a low shot whistling wide.
And a minute later a touch from Emnes sent Main surging forward to slam a low shot straight at the keeper.
Wigan almost broke through as Beausejour barged through a sliding tackle by Jozsef Varga down by the corner flag but his hopeful angled shot was easily gathered by Shay Given.
Boro went close again on 33 minutes as persistent Main won a corner and when Ledesma dipped it in, Ayala flicked on to the back stick where Carayol flew in to a diving header that was just turned wide off defender Perch.
The crowd were in uproar on 42 minutes as Emnes broke clear but was sent sprawling by Crainey but although the linesman flagged for a foul the referee waved play on and indicated the defender had got the ball.
Boro almost carved through on the stroke of half-time as a five man move and a sublime Ledesma ball found Emnes on the edge of the box but a defender arrived with a tackle as he turned onto the angle for the shot.
Just before the whistle Rhys Williams went down heavily after turning to chase and had to be stretchered off with what looked like an Achilles tendon injury and Ben Gibson came on in his place.
HALF-TIME: BORO 0 WIGAN 0
Varga was booked on 47 minutes for a pull on Beausejour.
Boro showed first as Carayol wriggled down the left and crossed to the near post where a defender just nipped in before it arrived for Main.
Wigan's Perch was booked on 54 minutes after hacking Carayol down as he streaked down the left of the box giving Boro a dangerous free-kick.
But it was wasted as Leadbitter's weak effort slammed straight into the wall and then he hooked the rebound high and wide to jeers from the crowd.
Wigan threatened on 56 minutes as after a good spell of pressure Powell touched on for Fortune to drill in a stinging 20 yard shot that was charged down by Ayala.
Boro won another free-kick and Wigan picked up another yellow card on 57 minutes as Watson fouled Emnes and this time when Ledesma whipped it in Perch headed clear.
On 59 minutes Albert Adomah came on for Emnes and Wigan put on McClean and McArthur for Fortune and Watson.
Boro missed a glorious chance to grab the opener on 64 minutes as Carayol broke down the left and pushed a neat ball into the box for Ledesma to dart towards the near post then cut back for Main but he slipped slightly as he swung at it and scooped over from eight yards out.
Then they turned the screw on 68 minutes as after a good spell of pressure Varga wriggled down the right to the byline but when he cut the ball back it someone evaded all his team-mates in the box then when Leadbitter sprayed the loose ball quickly down the left Carayol cut in to crack in a low shot that cannoned back off the shins of Perch.
Wigan broke out and threatened as McClean darted forward but fired over from 20 yards.
Boro went close as Ledesma wriggled in from the right then squared for Carayol on the edge of the box but although his first touch took him past his marker his second was poor and the ball ran away.
But Wigan could have snatched the lead on 76 minutes as a quick break found Crainey 20 yards out and he smashed in a stinging shot that took a slight deflection but it couldn't fool Given who made a superb one handed reflex save.
Then they pressed again as Powell stole in front of Ben Gibson onto a cross to power a header over the bar.
Kei Kamara came on for Carayol on 83 minutes and two minutes later Wigan put on Maynard for Powell.
On 87 minutes Ledesma was booked for a foul on McClean.
Boro survived a late scare as a McClean cross bounced through the box towards Maynard but Varga hoofed it away for a corner in a safety first clearance.
BORO: Given, Varga, Williams (Gibson 45+3), Ayala, Friend, Whitehead, Leadbitter ©, Ledesma, Emnes (Adomah 59), Carayol (Kamara, 83), Friend. Subs: Konstantopoulos Butterfield, Chalobah, Omeruo.
WIGAN: Al Habsi, Perch, Boyce, Barnett, Crainey, Espinoza, McCann, Watson (McArthur 59), Powell (Maynard 85), Fortune (McClean 59), Beausejour. Subs: Nicholls, Browning, Kiernan, Gomez
Ref: Michael Maynor (South Yorks)
Att: `13,258 (177 away fans)
