WIGAN bowed out of the Carling Cup - but not before they put the real frighteners on big-spending Middlebrough's Premiership side.

Steve McClaren was a relieved man to see his team safely into the hat for the fourth round draw, courtesy of a goal in each half from Italian Massimo Maccarone and Spaniard Gaizka Mendieta.

Both came on the break, with 22- year-old Maccarone getting the slightest of touches to wrong-foot Gary Walsh, after England man Danny Mills fired in a shot which the Wigan keeper appeared to have covered.

Number two followed a Wigan corner, which Nicky Eaden attempted to keep out of the danger area after it was cleared only for Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho to seize on it.

Danger

Walsh, up against one of his old clubs, immediately spotted the danger, but the little midfielder was quick to size up the situation, racing wide of the oncoming keeper and keeping his composure to square it for Mendieta to apply the finish.

Latics had gone into the game without the influential Geoff Horsfield up front, but stand-in striker Lee McCulloch filled his boots superbly.

He forced a terrific save from Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer just before half-time, and was desperately unlucky minutes after the re-start when the hard-working Neil Roberts set up the strike with a great chest-down.

The big Scot - surely worth a look for Bertie Vogts - hit it on the half volley, and it clipped the crossbar much to Schwarzer's relief.

Wigan blew another clear-cut chance when defender Ian Breckin and midfielder Jason Jarrett went for the same ball after Peter Kennedy hammered it into the danger area, only for the ex-Bury man to lift it over the bar from six yards.

But they got the goal their efforts deserved when midfield dynamo Jimmy Bullard slammed in a free-kick from the edge of the area which went in off the post.

Gareth Southgate and Co then had to earn their wage packets as Paul Jewell's workaholics threw everything at them.

Nathan Ellington, who had been warming the bench, was sent on but not even the Duke could conjure up another goal.

But the performance earned praise from former United No 2 McClaren, who said: "We knew it was going to be tough - and Wigan didn't disappoint us.

"You have to give them a lot of credit for the way they performed. But we defended very well and got the breaks at the right time and hung on.

"It was a fantastic result for us because we are taking this competition very seriously."

Wigan (4-4-2): Walsh 6, Eaden 6, Breckin 7, Jackson 7, Baines 7, Liddell 7, Bullard 8, Jarrett 6, Kennedy 6, Roberts 6, McCulloch 7. Subs: Teale 6 (Liddell 45), Ellington 6 (McCulloch 63), Flynn 6 (Kennedy 85). Not used: Filan, Mitchell.

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