Wigan 1 Middlesbrough 1: Boro not distracted by furore over Mackay

Middlesbrough's Patrick Bamford celebrates with George Friend (left) after scoring his side's first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match at the DW Stadium, Wigan.

Malky Mackay’s appointment as Latics’ manager thrust the club into the eye of the storm, with the Scot still under investigation by the Football Association for allegedly exchanging racist and anti-semitic texts during his time at Cardiff.

Owner Dave Whelan spoke widely to a variety of media outlets to explain his decision but landed himself an FA investigation following comments made to a newspaper reporter regarding Jewish and Chinese people.

Both men deny being racist.

Karanka, who saw substitute Patrick Bamford reply to Shaun Maloney’s superb free-kick shortly after coming off the bench, was asked if he had shared any words with Mackay during their brief moments together on the touchline, but the Boro chief said: “I just wanted to speak with him about football because he is a manager and I hope he does well.

“I prefer to speak about him as a manager, a manager who got promotion with Cardiff.

“He is a very good manager and I prefer to speak about, and think about, football.”

Karanka was content with a point, wary of the expected boost in form created by a managerial change.

“It was more difficult for us because players with a new manager are always extra motivated.

“We knew they would be very organised because Mackay is a good manager who knows how to organise a team.

“With the new manager they can go up in the table.”

Mackay admitted he was touched by his welcome at Wigan, but declined to take questions on issues outside of the match –  including Whelan’s earlier warning that he would resign as chairman if found guilty by the governing body.

But he did concede to an emotional moment as the Wigan fans put on a clear show of unity.

“You need a team effort. We had that from the steward at the door who welcomed me in, to the fans who welcomed me at 3pm, to the back office staff,” said Mackay.

“Everyone was focused on one thing and that is when better things happen.”

Wigan Athletic: Carson, Boyce (Perch 83), Ramis, Barnett, Taylor, McCann, Forshaw (Watson 82), Espinoza (McClean 70), McManaman, Fortune, Maloney. Unused substitutes: Riera, Nicholls, Huws, Figueroa.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue (Fredericks 71), Gibson, Ayala, Friend, Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Reach (Bamford 56), Tomlin, Garcia (Wildschut 82). Unused substitutes: Husband, Whitehead, Vossen, Mejias.

Referee: D Webb (County Durham).

Man of the match: Shaun Maloney.