IT would be foolish to pretend that Michael Carrick will offer an instant fix to Middlesbrough’s season – but a cloud is definitely lifting.

As news filtered through of Carrick’s imminent appointment as manager, Boro responded with a first away victory – and their first four-goal haul in a match – since early April.

Not only did the win lift Boro out of the Championship relegation zone, it also changed the whole complexion of Saturday’s home match against Huddersfield.

Defeat at the DW Stadium would have increased significantly the pressure to win at home against opponents in deep relegation trouble themselves. As it is, that game now offers a chance to build momentum, and properly revive a campaign that had strayed into the wilderness.

Boro had to come from a goal down to beat Wigan, but did so comfortably. This was the perfect way for the popular Leo Percovich’s caretaker stint to end. If Carrick can build on it, there is time to make something positive of the season yet.

Percovich had stuck with the back four set-up he had used to positive effect in the second half of Saturday’s defeat by Blackburn, and it worked again to such an extent that it was a shock when they went behind.

There had been the odd early scare - Dael Fry had flung himself in the way of a Tendayi Darikwa cross to prevent Middlesbrough-born Charlie Wyke from connecting for the hosts, while Tommy Smith made a brave block to deny James McClean.

Chuba Akpom, having made his presence felt in an early wrestling match with Curtis Tilt that led to a booking for both men, had glanced wide a Smith cross at the other end, while Isaiah Jones had an even better chance after Darikwa’s sloppy pass out, with keeper Ben Amos saving at his near post.

But just as Boro were settling, they lost a goal. The warning was sounded as Darikwa hit a fierce strike from 25 yards that Zack Steffen did well to tip on to the bar. But when McClean took the resulting corner, Wigan’s leading scorer Will Keane glanced in for his sixth goal of the season.

To Boro’s credit, they did not let the setback get to them, and were level by half-time. Wigan centre-back Jack Whatmough failed to intercept a long ball out of defence, and Duncan Watmore darted clear down the left before delivering a low cut-back for Jones to steer in.

Yet having found a way back in, Boro still needed Steffen’s brilliance to ensure they went in level at the break, with the goalkeeper adjusting well to push aside a bouncing McClean header.

That, perhaps, was a key moment. The visitors came out for the second half with renewed belief, and Watmore headed against the bar from close range after Darragh Lenihan had nodded Jonny Howson’s corner towards goal, with Fry’s follow-up cleared off the line by Keane.

Watmore might have had cause to curse his luck then – but not for long. Minutes later, he latched on to a pass out of defence from Lenihan, made the most of Darikwa’s failure to head clear, then cut in from the left past Whatmough to steer a shot into the far corner. The 1,300 travelling Boro fans roared with joy.

There was a brief scare as Thelo Aasgaard had a chance to equalise straight away, but Lenihan got in the way of the shot.

And just before the hour mark, all remaining anxieties for the evening disappeared, as Watmore made progress down the left to deliver a low cross that was only half cleared, and local boy Hayden Hackney drove in from outside the penalty area for his first senior goal.

Incredibly, it got better still. With a little over 20 minutes to go, Jones’ surge into the penalty area was ended as he was bowled over by substitute Graeme Shinnie, and Akpom drilled the resulting spot-kick underneath Amos.

For Wigan, the game was up. One-time Sunderland loanee Nathan Broadhead was denied by Steffen, but Boro could have had more themselves. If they can keep the goals flowing against Huddersfield, Carrick will be a happy man.