Wigan Athletic boss Malky Mackay has told Wigan Athletic's official website that they must respect Middlesbrough ahead of their Good Friday trip to the Riverside Stadium.

Mackay was delighted with his club's performance
Mackay is demanding respect

The former Cardiff City manager will be hoping his side can strike a fifth successive win away from home which will certainly boost their chances of staying in the Sky Bet Championship.

Mackay said: ''Middlesbrough have done well this season and they’ve got quality throughout their team and in particular Lee Tomlin and Patrick Bamford have been on peoples’ lips for a while.

"We’ve got to make sure that we go there and give a good account of ourselves; hold no fear, but at the same time give them respect for what they’ve achieved this season.''

After the Latics' brilliant 1-0 victory back at Carrow Road against Norwich City, Mackay will be hoping his side can replicate a similar performance to the one back in early March, which would see them gain three hugely valuable points in their fight for survival.

''We need to go there and give a similar performance to the one we gave at Norwich and I know Aitor Karanka won’t be taking us lightly; they need every point they can get right now, as do we.''

The Latics currently sit in 22nd place, five points away from safety in the Sky Bet Championship after a torrid campaign.

A win at promotion chasing Middlesbrough would make it very interesting in the lower echelons of the division, and would also be a huge twist at the top of the league.

With a hugely difficult Good Friday game at the Riverside followed by the visit of another promotion hopeful Derby County, this weekend could prove pivotal in what league Wigan Athletic play their football next season.