Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 2

BORO suffered their first home defeat this calendar year and remain rooted in trouble as United opened up a six-point gap at the top, writes GORDON COX from the Riverside.

The Boro side showed just one change from that beaten at Arsenal, with Justin Hoyte replacing Andrew Taylor who was a late withdrawal.

Sir Alex Ferguson made five changes to the side which beat Arsenal on Wednesday night. Rio Ferdinand missed the game through injury, Edwin Van der Sar, Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick were rested, while Cristiano Ronaldo started the game on the bench.

In came Ben Foster, Jonny Evans, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs - for appearance 801 - and Federico Macehda who started a Premier League game for the first time.

Hoyte started at left-back while Rooney started on the left side of midfield in a game which got off to a pacey start.

Both sides created chances in the opening five minutes, but Jeremie Aliadiere shot wide from the edge of the area before Rooney fired well over from a similar position at the other end.

A measured approach from both sides saw much passing and few errors, but consequently few chances.

So it was that those created had to be defended stoutly and John O'Shea was forced to concede a corner when Matthew Bates spun over a good cross.

Rooney cut out the subtlety and went for goal and was not far over with a well-struck drive from 30 yards.

It took 21 minutes for the first save to be made as Foster's legs blocked a low, if underhit, shot from Aliadiere who had sneaked in behind the United back line.

The game was warming up nicely.

When Rooney, deep in Boro territory, pulled back to Giggs it looked as though a free shot was coming the way of the Welshman until Bates produced a superb clearing challenge.

But with 24 minutes played United took the lead.

Rooney played in low from the left, the ball was worked to Ryan Giggs who struck crisply low through David Wheater's legs into Brad Jones's bottom left-hand corner from the D.

"You're going down with the Shearer," taunted the United fans, "We support our local team," the retort from the Boro faithful.

A low 25-yard drive from Downing was the on the field retort, but while there was direction there was insufficient venom in his effort and Foster saved easily.

A right-wing corner from Gary O'Neil fell perfectly for Robert Huth who headed back into the danger area, but United were quicker to react and thumped clear from the edge of the six-yard box.

The best chances in the closing stages of the first half both fell to Scholes, but each time he pulled well wide across the face of goal from either side of the edge of the penalty area.

Half-time: Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 1

United ought to have increased their lead three minutes into the second half as Rooney wriggled into the penalty area and pulled back low to Macheda who shot just wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

Two minutes later the feat was achieved as Rooney, well outside the penalty area, threaded through to Ji Sung Park who turned to rifle low across Jones from 14 yards

A triple change saw McMahon and Marlon King replaced by Afonso Alves and Didier Digard, while Macheda made way for Carlos Tevez.

United were now firmly in control and even though Boro enjoyed decent possession the visitors always had an answer.

Equally they threatened each time they went forward. Scholes drilled a 40-yard pass almost routinely out wide to Giggs, how many times have they combined over the years? Giggs pulled back low to Rooney but his shot from the edge of the box was blocked.

The introduction of Digard made a difference, his presence, tackling and distribution giving United something to think about, while a later change saw Marvin Emnes introduced and at times he sparked.

But it was almost as though United had Boro at arms length and Rooney just cleared the bar before Bates produced an excellent block to deny O'Shea who was on the end of the final pass as United tried to walk the ball in.

Tuncay shot for goal from the D, but a combination of Evans and Vidic ensured Foster need do nothing as United closed the game out in professional style, their only concern an injury to Patrice Evra who will be assessed before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final with Arsenal on Tuesday.

Middlesbrough: Jones; Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, McMahon (Digard 54), O'Neil (Emnes 69), Bates, Tuncay, Downing (Capt.), King (Alves 54), Aliadiere. Unused subs: Turnbull (gk); Grounds, Arca, A Johnson.

Manchester United: Foster; O'Shea, Evans, Vidic, Evra (Rafael 77), Park (Nani 74), Scholes, Rooney, Giggs (Capt.), Macheda (Tevez 54), Berbatov. Unused subs: Kuszczak (gk); Gibson, Anderson, Ronaldo.

Referee Mark Halsey. Lancashire.

Bookings
Middlesbrough Huth 56, foul on Park.

Manchester United Macheda 37, late tackle on Wheater.

Attendance 33,767 (Highest of the season)

Conditions Warm and sunny with a gentle breeze.

Website Boro Man of the Match Robert Huth