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Mackay was taking charge of his first game since leaving Cardiff in December 2013

Malky Mackay's first game in charge of Championship strugglers Wigan ended in a draw against Middlesbrough.

The Scot received a mixed reception at his first game since allegations that he sent homophobic, sexist and racist text messages while at Cardiff.

Shaun Maloney put Mackay's Wigan ahead with a free-kick but Boro sub Patrick Bamford equalised coolly from Kike's pass seconds after coming on.

The draw left Wigan second-bottom of the table while Boro stayed third.

The appointment of Mackay amid a Football Association investigation into the text message allegations prompted an ethical debate, and sections of the DW Stadium crowd expressed their displeasure.

But others, concerned about Wigan's disappointing league position, were openly supportive of manager who took Cardiff into the Premier League for the first time.

Club chairman Dave Whelan, who said he would step down if found guilty by the FA for his own controversial comments, enjoyed a rousing reception from the home support on taking his place in the stands.

Dave Whelan was applauded to his seat by fans in the Wigan sections of the ground

On the field, the visitors enjoyed early possession, but the first real opportunity came when Maloney's dead-ball effort for Wigan clipped the bar on its way over.

It brought the hosts into the game and they took the lead when a second Maloney free-kick curled past Dimi Konstantopoulos in the Boro goal from 25 yards out.

Mackay, perhaps buoyed by the goal, was a prominent figure on the edge of his technical area.

His side were playing well and denying Boro chances, other than Kike's effort at the end of the first-half that scraped wide of a post.

Adam Forshaw's flashing volley from a loose Konstantopoulos punch was the closest Wigan came to boosting their lead before the break.

Having continued to lack a cutting edge after half-time, Boro boss Aitor Karanka replaced Adam Reach with Bamford.

And that had an immediate impact when the striker exchanged passes with Kike at close quarters and fired the ball into the Wigan net just seconds after coming on.

Chris McCann's effort cleared the crossbar as Wigan sought to regain the lead, while Bamford could also have won it had he converted George Friend's teasing cross.

Albert Adomah was fouled late on, prompting Boro's supporters to claim for a penalty, but the referee ruled it was outside the box and the set-piece came to nothing.

Shaun Maloney's goal gave Malky Mackay's Wigan a first-half lead that Patrick Bamford equalised