Boro Reserves 1 Man United Reserves 2
Boro Reserves 1 Man United Reserves 2
BORO were stunned by two late United goals and also had skipper Jonathan Grounds set off in the closing stages, writes NATHAN JUDAH from the Riverside.
As expected, coach Steve Agnew named both Emanuel Pogatetz and Robert Huth in his starting line-up as they continued to regain full fitness.
Pogatetz played the full game while Huth got an hour under his belt, almost scoring with a shot from the edge of the box.
Boro started the brighter, with Craddock shooting just wide in the first minute and a Gaizka Mendieta free-kick found Pogatetz unmarked in the box but the Austrian didn't time his run quite right and headed just wide.
Seb Hines was involved in an off the ball incident with Sean Evans, with the United player appearing to strike the Boro midfielder in the head.
But the referee failed to penalise the United man.
Daniel Welbeck shot wide of Turnbull's goal in a rare attack for the visitors and Boro nearly went ahead when Mendieta fed the ball through to Craddock but his shot was blocked by onrushing keeper Tom Heaton.
The chance of the half fell to Mendieta, whose header from a Ben Hutchinson cross was brilliantly saved by the United goalie.
Mendieta was pulling the strings in midfield and he did well before feeding Graeme Owens, who shot powerfully across the goal and just wide.
Half-time: Boro 0 United 0
Boro started the second half well, Huth almost scoring from the edge of the box following a goalmouth scramble.
Turnbull was called into action for the first time in the match, saving well from Febian Brandy.
Mendieta should have done better from the edge of the box when he had Owens free on his left-hand side but instead dragged his shot wide.
Boro took a deserved lead in the 63rd minute after good work from Grounds set up Hutchinson, whose stunning volley from the edge of the area flew into the top corner, giving Heaton no chance.
Owens was then injured after a heavy tackle and was replaced by Joe Bennett.
Boro looked to be closing out the game comfortably but were caught napping, leaving Brandy to nip in behind the defence and deliver a cross-shot low to Turnbull's right and into the net.
Agnew's men had chances to win the game through Craddock and Hutchinson but Fang Zhuo Dong found himself one on one in injury-time.
The covering Grounds failed to get anything of the ball and brought the striker down, resulting in a red card for the Boro left-back.
Dong himself struck the resulting free-kick, which deflected off Mendieta and past Turnbull, giving United the points.
Teams
Middlesbrough: Turnbull; McMahon, Grounds, Hines, Huth (J Johnson 60), Pogatetz, Mendieta, Williams (Walker 82), Craddock, Hutchinson, Owens (Bennett 75). Unused Subs: Steele (gk), Thompson.
Manchester United: Heaton; Gray, S Evans, Eckersley, Chester, James, Welbeck, Lee, Dong, Brandy, Barnes. Subs: C Evans, Zieler, Bryan.
Referee: Mr C Pawson
Attendance: 849
Bookings
Boro Owens, Hines, Pogatetz, Mendieta.
United: Brandy
Boro Website Man of the Match: Rhys Williams
Conditions: Cold and damp
