Aliadiere scored his first Barclays Premier League goal of the season in the 89th minute at Wigan on Saturday to defy his critics and hand Boro their first away league win of the year.

But Southgate admits he expects more from the 25-year-old former Arsenal star and believes Aliadiere's upbringing under Arsene Wenger could now be counting against him.

Southgate said after the victory: "I think he's got everything really, but it's just a case that he's a very unselfish player sometimes. I don't know if it's the Arsenal upbringing, but he looks to set people up even when he's in a good position himself.

"Sometimes a lot of my players don't have enough belief in what they're capable of. But Jeremie had plenty of support and to get off the mark and get the winner is special. Jeremie is always a threat."

Aliadiere had barely touched the ball up to the dramatic moment when Stewart Downing nodded down a cross from substitute Didier Digard in the box and gave the Frenchman the simplest of chances.

Wigan had dominated the game with Boro goalkeeper Ross Turnbull denying Amr Zaki, Wilson Palacios and Jason Koumas, while Southgate's patched-up five-man defence was superb.

Watching England coach Fabio Capello could not have helped but be impressed by the performance of David Wheater while alongside him Chris Riggott and Jon Grounds – recalled from a loan spell at Norwich – were rock solid.

Southgate added: "We were excellent across the back five. It's the type of game where centre-halves get the opportunity to stand out and they certainly did that.

"Our mentality going into the game was different and you could sense a determination about them. The irony is we've played much better football in our last two games and taken nothing."

Coming into the game on the back of a fine win over Manchester City the previous week, the Latics had oozed confidence with Emile Heskey and Zaki, the league's leading scorer, fashioning early chances.

Boro almost snatched a first-half lead out of nowhere when Wheater headed Mido's in-swinging cross just over the bar, but for the most part it was one-way traffic.

Turnbull did well to tip a drive from Zaki around a post, Palacios shot straight at the goalkeeper, and substitute Koumas had him at full-stretch to stop an impressive solo effort.

Capello will have learned little more than he already knew about the workmanlike Heskey, while potential goalkeeper Chris Kirkland's only task all afternoon was to pick Aliadiere's strike out of the net.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce declared his side had been "well and truly mugged", but admitted he could have few complaints after his side failed to take advantage of a series of chances.

Bruce said: "It's not quite right, but often in football you don't get what you deserve. I don't think our keeper's touched the ball, let alone made a save, but there you go.

"There was 0-0 written all over it once we failed to score in the first half-hour. We needed to score and unfortunately we didn't manage to do that, and we've been caught with a horrible sucker punch at the end."

Bruce admitted his side's defeat was particularly disappointing in the context of their fine recent form.

He added: "We had gone six or seven unbeaten and I think the whole nation had watched us play live and think what a good team we were. We started well and caused plenty of problems, but it's always the same the longer it goes.

"The way Boro defended in the first half-hour was a credit to them, especially the two centre-backs, who I thought had outstanding games. It's a disappointing result, but sometimes these things happen."

Wigan Atheltic: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios (De Ridder 85), Kapo (Koumas 67), Zaki (Camara 81), Heskey. Unused substitutes: Pollitt, Taylor, Kilbane, Brown.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Hoyte, Wheater, Riggott, Grounds, Aliadiere, O'Neil, Shawky (Digard 58), Downing, Alves (Adam Johnson 79), Mido. Unused substitutes: Jones, Emnes, John Johnson, Walker, Craddock.

Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).